Alaska Aquaculture Funding Opportunities

Funding Opportunities

See the table below for national aquaculture funding opportunities. Also see the NOAA Fisheries funding and financial services page to search for additional NOAA Fisheries opportunities.

Grant Writing Resources

Category	Competition Name	Funding Source	Details	Frequency	Individual Project Amount	Eligibility
Industry	Economic Adjustment Assistance Program	U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)	The Economic Adjustment Assistance program will fund a broad range of projects such as technical, planning, workforce development, entrepreneurship, public works, and infrastructure	Rolling applications	Varies	District Organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District, Tribal governments, county, city, or other political subdivision of a state, institutions of higher education, public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with state entities
Industry	Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I and II	NOAA Technology Partnership Office	Targets small businesses to assist in otherwise inhibitive R&D to promote innovation, protect small businesses, and increase competitiveness against larger businesses. Three phase program: 1. Feasibility (6 months), 2. R&D (24 months), and 3. Commercialization (currently undeveloped)	Annual; Early winter application deadline	Phase 1: Up to $150,000 Phase 2: Up to $500,000 Phase 3: Currently unfunded	Small businesses
Industry	Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I and II	USDA SBIR Program	The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support high-quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture (and aquaculture) that could lead to significant public benefits. The program stimulates technological innovations in the private sector and strengthens the role of federal research and development in support of small businesses.	Annual; Phase 1: Fall application deadline Phase 2: Winter application deadline	Phase 1: Up to $181,500 Phase 2: Up to $650,000	Small businesses
Industry, Research	National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program	NOAA Fisheries	BREP’s mission is to support the development of technological solutions and changes in fishing practices designed to minimize bycatch of fish and protected species (including Endangered Species Act-listed fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles) and to reduce impacts to invertebrates (including sponges, deep-sea corals, and shallow (tropical) corals). Projects should produce outcomes that can directly influence management needs of federally managed living marine resources.	Annual; Beginning of year pre-proposal deadline Spring full proposal deadline	$50,000-$250,000	Individuals, institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, for-profit organizations, foreign public entities or foreign organizations, and state, local and tribal governments. Federal agencies or instrumentalities are not eligible.
Industry, Research	Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program	NOAA Fisheries	Grants for supporting fisheries research and development projects that target harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated business structure. Projects should address fisheries needs by supporting fishing communities in maximizing economic benefits and sustainability, dealing with conservation and management impacts, and increasing other opportunities.	Annual; Summer pre-proposal deadline Late autumn full proposal deadline	Up to $500,000	Individuals, industry, academia, and state and local governments.
Industry, Restoration	Marine Debris Program Funding Opportunities	NOAA Marine Debris Program	The NOAA Marine Debris Program offers competitive funding opportunities for marine debris projects.	Varies	Varies	Grant-dependent
Research	Alaska Sea Grant biennial research funding	Alaska Sea Grant	Funding for innovative research projects advancing knowledge in focus areas in the state including: healthy coastal ecosystems; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; resilient communities and economies; and ocean literacy and workforce development.	Biennial; Late winter preliminary proposal deadline	Up to $100,000	Researchers in the natural, social, and education sciences, particularly collaborative projects, synthesis projects, interdisciplinary partnerships, and early career investigators. Partnerships among academic and research institutions, agencies, local government, industry, and user groups are encouraged.
Research	Special Research Grants Program Aquaculture Research	USDA	Research projects involving genetics, disease, production systems, and economics	Biennial; Spring application deadline	$200,000 - $300,000	State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals for the purpose of conducting research, extension, or education activities to facilitate or expand breakthroughs in food and agricultural sciences.
Research	Western Regional Aquaculture Center Regional Research and Outreach Projects	USDA	Aquaculture projects supporting 9 stated areas: 1) New and Emerging Species 2) Prevention and Treatment of Diseases Affecting Aquaculture Production 3) Aquaculture Opportunities Through Genetics 4) Characterization/description of Aquaculture in Western United States 5) Aquaculture: Applied Technology Solutions 6) Diet Nutrition/Innovation 7) Aquaculture Water Quality 8) Regulatory Obstacles to Aquaculture Development 9) Increasing Product Quality Trough Farm Practices, Food Science, and Quality Control	Annual; Early spring pre-proposal deadline Summer full proposal deadline	Up to $120,000/year	Priority given to projects that include participation by two or more states located within the western region. Partnerships may be formed among all elements of federal, state, and local government; public institutions; and the private sector.
Research	Western Region of Sustainable Agriculture and Education Program (SARE) Grants	USDA	SARE provides various grants for R&D projects involving education, graduates, and professional development	Varies	Varies	Grant-dependent
Research, Restoration	Sea Grant various aquaculture projects	National Sea Grant	National Sea Grant Aquaculture Initiative Special Grants available for a variety of projects	Varies	Varies	Grant-dependent
Restoration	National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants	USFWS	Awards states and territories up to $1 million to support projects protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetland ecosystems and associated uplands. State and local governments, as well as other partners contribute additional funds.	Annual; June application deadline	Up to $1 million	State agencies or entities designated as eligible by the governor of a coastal State. The eligible agency is usually a state natural resource or fish and wildlife agency.

Last updated by Alaska Regional Office on 03/11/2026

Funding Opportunity Grants