Funding Opportunities Alaska Region

About the Region

NOAA Fisheries in Alaska supports the NOAA Fisheries’ mission through competitive and non-competitive grants and cooperative agreements. We fund efforts to restore salmon populations, conserve marine mammals, assist mariculture, and support fishing communities.

The Alaska Region supports fisheries grants through Federal Program Officers. Federal Program Officers ensure the timely processing of all financial assistance awards, from initial solicitation through post award management. They work with the NOAA Grants Management Division, program staff, and grant recipients throughout the award period to facilitate the successful completion of project objectives. For more information or assistance, please email akr.grants@noaa.gov.

Highlighted on this page are NOAA Fisheries grant opportunities and other grant programs administered by partner agencies and organizations that can support Alaskan projects. To look up funding amounts for current and past grants and programs, please visit usaspending.gov.

Contacts

General Questions

akr.grants@noaa.gov

Project or Program Specific Questions

Name	Program Areas	Contact Information
Kristin Cieciel Federal Program Officer	Alaska Competition Manager for: Saltonstall-Kennedy, AK MET, and Marine Mammal Co-Management; point of contact for Disasters	kristin.cieciel@noaa.gov 907-957-2594
Leah Gregg Federal Program Officer	Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, Pacific Salmon Treaty, Cost Recovery	leah.gregg@noaa.gov 907-308-3281
Tristan Mandeville Federal Program Officer	Cost Recovery, Marine Mammal Co-Management, North Pacific Fishery Management Council	tristan.mandeville@noaa.gov 907-308-3278

News/Announcements

eRA Application Errors

Applications with errors cannot be received or reviewed in eRA systems. All applicants are encouraged to log into eRA Commons to check the status of their application. Receiving a Grants.gov tracking number is not enough to verify a successful submission. Applicants can contact the eRA Service Desk for assistance in addressing errors and verifying successful submissions.

Phone number: 866-504-9551 or 301-402-7469 (Press 1 for eRA Commons or ASSIST)
Website to submit a web ticket: https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATIONS - START NOW!

All applicants must complete and maintain registrations on sam.gov, grants.gov, and eRA Commons prior to submitting funding proposals. Registration can take 4-6 weeks, so applicants should begin this process as soon as possible. See this document for details on the process for new applicants to get registered in these systems.

Sam.gov: All applicant organizations and individuals must first register in SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier. Registration can take 2 or more weeks to process. If your organization is already registered, renewal is required annually and the UEI must be active when you submit your proposal.
Grants.gov: Applicants must register in Grants.gov after receiving the UEI from SAM.gov, but can register before or after registering in eRA Commons. Registration can take 2-4 weeks.
eRA Commons: The eRA registration can start while an applicant is waiting for their final SAM.gov approval of their UEI. However, the organization must have a complete SAM.gov registration in order to submit an application. Registration can take up to 4 weeks. eRA Commons registration must be completed by the Signing Official (SO). An SO is someone in the organization with signatory authority such as a President, Executive Director, Owner, etc. The SO will receive 4-5 emails throughout the registration process. In addition, a Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account must be created and linked on the SF-424 for a successful submission.

NOAA Fisheries Funding Opportunities

Alaska Aquaculture

Marine aquaculture (or farmed seafood) projects support our nation’s seafood production, provide year-round jobs, rebuild protected species and habitats, and enhance coastal resilience.
Alaska Aquaculture Funding Opportunities

Alaska Fisheries Disaster Relief

Fisheries can experience sudden and unexpected losses, leading to serious economic impacts for fishers and their communities. In these instances, a state governor or an elected or duly appointed representative of an affected fishing community can request a fishery disaster determination from the Secretary of Commerce.
Program contact: Kristin Cieciel (kristin.cieciel@noaa.gov, 907-957-2594)

Application information

Alaska Native Organization Co-Management Funding Program

The National Marine Fisheries Service recognizes the unique importance of marine mammals to Alaska Native Organizations and values ongoing efforts by Alaska Native Tribes and ANOs to conserve and protect subsistence species under NMFS' jurisdiction. Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. §1388, NMFS may provide Federal assistance to ANOs to conserve marine mammals and to promote co-management of Alaska Native subsistence use of such mammals under NMFS' jurisdiction. This assistance, provided in the form of cooperative agreements, may be used to support conservation of marine mammals utilized for subsistence purposes by Alaska Natives. Funded activities may include development and implementation of species management, subsistence harvest monitoring, subsistence harvest sampling, scientific research, and public education and outreach. Proposed activities should address priority actions identified in an Endangered Species Act Recovery Plan or Marine Mammal Protection Act Conservation Plan where applicable and the priorities identified within this federal funding opportunity. Tribally-Authorized ANOs with a signed agreement for co-management with NMFS are eligible to apply under this program.
Program contact: Kristin Cieciel (kristin.cieciel@noaa.gov, 907-957-2594)
Eligible applicants: tribally-authorized Alaska Native Organizations (ANOs) with an existing marine mammal agreement for co-management with the NMFS.
Application deadline: February 2, 2024
Application information

Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program

NOAA Fisheries invites non-federal researchers working on the development of improved fishing practices and innovative gear technologies that reduce bycatch to apply and encourage applicants to include and demonstrate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We’re looking for proactive, meaningful, and equitable community engagement in the identification, design, and/or implementation of proposed projects.
Program contact: Justin Pearce (nmfs.hq.brep@noaa.gov, 301-427-8521)
Eligible applicants: individuals, institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, for-profit organizations, foreign public entities or foreign organizations, and state, local, US territorial, Alaska Native, and Indian tribal governments.
Application deadlines:
Pre-proposals: December 13, 2024 | Full proposals: March 21, 2025
Application Information

Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities

This program supports capacity building and restoration project activities that have the greatest potential to lead to habitat restoration that enhances resilience of underserved communities in marine, estuarine, coastal, and Great Lakes areas. Meaningful engagement of underserved communities is intended to ensure that communities are integral to the visioning, decision-making, and leadership for coastal habitat restoration projects; to ensure that the scope of such projects are inclusive of the priorities and needs of the communities; and/or to ensure that the benefits of such projects flow back to underserved communities.
Program contact: Julia Royster (underserved.community.grants@noaa.gov, 301-427-8686)
Eligible applicants: tribes, tribal entities, underserved communities, and entities that partner with tribes, tribal entities, and/or underserved communities, such as institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, commercial organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local, and Native American and Alaska Native tribal governments.
Application deadline: May 12, 2025
Application information

FY2024-FY2026 NOAA Fisheries Broad Agency Announcement

NOAA Fisheries issues this BAA for extramural research, innovative projects, and sponsorships (e.g., conferences, newsletters, etc.) that address one or more of the following mission goal descriptions contained in the NOAA Fisheries 2022-2025 Strategic Plan:

Strategic Goal 1: Adaptively manage fisheries for sustainability and economic competitiveness
Strategic Goal 2: Safeguard protected species and propel their recovery
Strategic Goal 3: Diversify our workforce, promote equity and environmental justice, and improve our mission performance through organizational excellence

Program contact: Jeffrey Kulnis (jeffrey.kulnis@noaa.gov, 301-427-8771)
Eligible applicants: Eligible applicants may be institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, international or foreign organizations or governments, individuals, state, local, and Indian Tribal governments. Eligibility also depends on the statutory authority that permits NOAA to fund the proposed activity. Funding of Federal organizations is outside the scope of this announcement.
Application deadline: Applications are considered on a continuing/rolling basis as they are received. The final day to submit an application to this announcement is September 30, 2026.
Application information

John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program

The Prescott Grant Program provides grants or cooperative agreements to eligible stranding network participants for (1) recovery and treatment (i.e., rehabilitation) of stranded marine mammals; (2) data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals, and (3) facility upgrades, operation costs, and staffing needs directly related to the recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals and the collection of data from living or dead stranded marine mammals.
Program contact: Arthur Wong (arthur.wong@noaa.gov, 301-427-8454)
Eligible applicants: Stranding Agreement holders or their designee; Co-Investigators authorized as Level 3, 4, or 5 large whale entanglement responders under the MMHSRP’s MMPA/ESA scientific research and enhancement permit; holders of researcher authorization letters issued by a Fisheries Regional Administrator and/or of scientific research or enhancement permits under MMPA and/or ESA, including co-investigator authorizations; eligible federal, state, or local government personnel or tribal personnel (pursuant to MMPA section 109(h) [16 U.S.C. 1379(h)]); or diagnostic or service organizations performing services for the stranding network.
Application deadline: October 30, 2024
Application information

NOAA Species Recovery Grants to States

The Species Recovery Grants to States Program is authorized under section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. Species Recovery Grants to States support management, research, monitoring, and/or outreach activities that have direct conservation benefits for listed species under the ESA within that state. Recently delisted species, proposed, and candidate species are also eligible.
Program contact: Maggie Miller (margaret.h.miller@noaa.gov, 301-427-8457)
Eligible applicants: State agencies that have entered, or that enter within 30 days of the grant proposal deadline, into an agreement with NOAA Fisheries under section 6(c) of the ESA. The terms "state" and "state agency" are used as defined in section 3 of the ESA.
Application deadline: October 31, 2024
Application information

NOAA Species Recovery Grants to Tribes

Species Recovery Grants to Tribes support tribally-led management, research, monitoring, and outreach activities that have direct conservation benefits for listed species under the Endangered Species Act. Recently delisted species, proposed, and candidate species are also eligible.
Program contact: Heather Austin (heather.austin@noaa.gov, 301-427-8422)
Eligible applicants: federally-recognized tribes and organizations who have the authority to represent a federally-recognized tribe on matters relating to ESA listed, candidate, or proposed species.
Frequently Asked Questions
Application deadline: October 31, 2024
Application information

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund was established to reverse the decline of West Coast salmon. This competitive grant program provides funding to states and tribes in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Idaho to protect, conserve, and restore these populations.
Program contacts:

Leah Gregg, Alaska PCSRF Program Officer (leah.gregg@noaa.gov, 907-308-3281)
Kyle Bowers, Lead PCSRF Program Officer (kyle.bowers@noaa.gov, 208-495-5898)
Jennie Franks, PCSRF Lead Program Coordinator (jennie.franks@noaa.gov, 503-231-2344)

Eligible applicants: the states of Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and California and federally recognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast (including Alaska), or their representative tribal commission or consortia.
Application deadline: March 4, 2025
Application information

Alaska PCSRF Partners

Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal Consortium, AYK Sustainable Salmon Initiative
- Application information (applications due December 17, 2024)
State of Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund
- Application information (applications due June 12, 2024)

Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is funding fish passage projects that will remove in-stream barriers. This funding will support transformational projects that reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish around the country.
Program contact: Melanie Gange (fish.passage.grants@noaa.gov, 301-427-8664)
Eligible applicants: institutions of higher education, non-profits, commercial (for profit) organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments.
Application deadline: February 10, 2025
Application information

Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is funding projects to implement fish passage work and build tribal organizational capacity. This funding will support Indian tribes, tribal commissions, and tribal consortia in implementing tribal priority fish passage projects, including organizational capacity building, that benefit migratory fish in coastal ecosystems.
Program contact: Janine Harris (infrastructure.tribal@noaa.gov, 301-427-8635)
Eligible applicants: Indian tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. Section 5304 (e)) and organizations that represent Indian tribes through formal legal agreements
Application deadline: February 27, 2025
Application information

Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program

The Saltonstall-Kennedy grant program addresses the needs of fishing communities to optimize economic benefits by:

Building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices
Dealing with the impacts of conservation and management measures
Increasing other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable

Program contact: Kristin Cieciel (kristin.cieciel@noaa.gov, 907-957-2594)
Eligible applicants: citizens or nationals of the United States; citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, or the Federated States of Micronesia; representatives of an entity that is a corporation, partnership, association, or other non-Federal entity or non-profit (including Indian tribes).
Application deadlines for FY25:
Pre-proposals: July 23, 2024 | Full proposals: November 25, 2024

Application information
Informational webinar

Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants

Projects selected through this funding opportunity will have a transformative impact for coastal communities and tribes across the country. They will help sustain our nation’s fisheries, make significant strides in the recovery of threatened and endangered species, and help protect coastal communities and ecosystems from the impacts of climate change. They will support efforts such as reconnecting rivers to their historic floodplains, outplanting corals to rebuild reefs, building living shorelines that protect coasts from erosion and sea level rise, and more.
Program contact: Rina Studds (301-427-8651) or Amanda Cousart (301-337-9447), or by email at resilience.grants@noaa.gov
Eligible applicants: institutions of higher education, non-profits, commercial (for profit) organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments.
Application deadline: April 16, 2025
Application information

Other Funding Opportunities

Bureau of Indian Affairs Endangered Species Program

The Branch of Fisheries, Wildlife and Recreation (BFWR) provides competitive funding to achieve compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for Tribal projects developing, utilizing, or managing Trust resources, or for projects that benefit Federally ESA-listed or Tribally-significant species on Tribal lands.
Application information

EPA Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program

EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges.
Application information

Marine Mammal Commission Research Program

The Marine Mammal Commission carries out a small grant program that supports projects aimed at meeting the conservation and protection goals of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The Commission’s Research Program includes all relevant activities including basic and applied research, workshops, literature reviews, compilations of expert opinion, and drafting manuscripts or reports.
MMC Funding Opportunities

Sea Grant Young Fishermen's Development Grant Program

Sea Grant makes competitive matching grants to support local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives to young fishermen, including programs, workshops, and services related to: 1) seamanship, navigation, electronics, and safety; 2) vessel and engine care, maintenance, and repair; and 3) sustainable fishing practices.
Additional information

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grants

Tribal Wildlife Grants are used to provide technical and financial assistance to Tribes for the development and implementation of programs that benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitat. The grant provides a competitive funding opportunity for Federally recognized Tribal governments to develop and implement programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species of Native American cultural or traditional importance and species that are not hunted or fished.
Application information