The Fisheries Opportunity Fund
Support the future leaders in fisheries science and conservation through the Fisheries Opportunity Fund!
The Fisheries Opportunity Fund (FOF) provides financial support to students conducting fisheries-related research and/or who are taking professional development opportunities with the Fisheries Collaborative Program (FCP). Gifts made to the FOF help remove financial barriers to student success by supporting:
- Paid FCP internships for undergraduate and graduate students
- Research supplies for fieldwork and lab work
- Professional development opportunities (e.g. technical training courses)
- Travel costs (e.g. travel to field sites and scientific conferences)
FCP is a collaboration of UCSC faculty, researchers, and students and scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS/NOAA). Our mission is to advance the science of fisheries ecology for sustainable resource management. FCP is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the next generation of fisheries science professionals.
The Fisheries Opportunity Fund is made possible by Giving Day donors and year-round donations.
FCP’s First Ever Fisheries Opportunity Fund Fellow is Niza Contreras!
In 2022, Niza Contreras (UCSC Masters Student, Coastal Science and Policy, ‘23) was selected as the first recipient of the Fisheries Opportunity Fund Award. Niza used the award funds to strengthen climate adaptation strategy implementation in fisheries in Baja California Sur. She partnered with Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI), ten FEDECOOP cooperatives, and local fishers and decision makers to develop a new climate adaptation knowledge-sharing platform. Her overall goal is to help communities understand and implement the best adaptation strategies for their environment.
Check out Niza’s recently published blog post on the New England Aquarium’s Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF) website HERE!
Meet the Fisheries Opportunity Fund Recipients:
