Under the 2021 Invitation, up to $1.2M is available for funding of research projects addressing the region’s declined Chinook salmon populations. Informed by expert peer reviews and review by our science panel, our program will select projects for funding by spring 2021, with contracting completed prior to May 1^st in time for the 2021 field season.

The 2021 Invitation includes two components linked to downloadable documents/forms:

1. 2021 AYK SSI Research Priorities & Proposal Submission Instructions, (MS Word file) lists our RFP priority “Research Themes,” and provides instructions, formatting requirements and the proposal template required for submission as well as information about our on-line proposal submission system.
2. 2021 AYK SSI Budget Forms, (MS Excel file) includes instructions and required budget forms which must be uploaded to our on-line proposal submission system along with your completed proposal narrative.

An important goal of our program is to build the capacity of local and regional entities to participate in fisheries research. As described in the submission instructions, projects should include appropriate partners and contribute, to the maximum degree possible, to the capacities of in-region communities, and residents of the region to participate in fishery research.

**PLEASE NOTE: The AYK SSI Online Submission System will be available SOON. The online system will be accessible until the proposal deadline on December 16, 2020 5:00 PM (AK time).

To ensure that proposed projects will effectively integrate with and build on completed and ongoing research of the AYK SSI program, we strongly encourage proposers to contact our AYK SSI Research Coordinator prior to submission and explore our completed project database.  You can also contact him for questions regarding the Excel budget form, formatting or submission issues.  AYK SSI Research Coordinator: Joseph Spaeder joespaeder@gmail.com (907) 279-6519 x 2.