The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) will be holding a contest for marine science graduates and postdoctoral researchers to submit ideas for the next sustainable tuna fishing initiatives, a release from the organization said.

In particular, ISSF is looking for ideas to help reduce bycatch and protect ocean ecosystems from purse seine fisheries that use fish aggregating devices (FADs). The ISSF is especially focused on ideas to reduce the bycatch of sharks and marine mammals, improving the selectivity for skipjack tuna over yellowfin or bigeye, and reducing the marine impact of lost FADs.

Submissions will be judged by a panel of five experts from academia and the fishing industry, based on the originality of the idea, conservation impact, impact on skipjack catches, the degree to which idea has been tested, feasibility of industry-wide implementation, and cost-effectiveness.

The contest, which runs until Dec. 31, 2019, will award a $45,000 grand prize to the idea deemed to be the best in these criteria, as well as a $10,000 runner-up prize, both to be announced on Feb. 28, 2020.

The grand prize winner will also be invited to present their idea to a diverse group of stakeholders at an ISSF event, the global organization said.