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

Project & 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 907-586-7273
Leah Gregg Federal Program Officer	Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, Pacific Salmon Treaty, Cost Recovery	leah.gregg@noaa.gov 301-660-5544
Tristan Mandeville Federal Program Officer	Cost Recovery, Marine Mammal Co-Management, North Pacific Fishery Management Council	tristan.mandeville@noaa.gov 601-564-9903

General Questions

akr.grants@noaa.gov

News/Announcements

eRA Commons/GEMS Transition

The eRA Commons go-live date for NOAA users was October 30, 2023. Click here to learn how to register for eRA Commons. For training materials, see the Training section of this webpage.

ASAP Login Process

Effective September 16, 2023, grantees are required to access ASAP via ID.me. Follow this guide to get registered.

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, 907-586-7273)

Alaska Indigenous Engagement Program Grants

This program offers grants to non-Federal entities to support collaboration with Indigenous Knowledge holders to develop bi-directional and parallel knowledge pathways to support climate-informed studies and ecosystem policies regionally and internationally. The Alaska Fisheries Science Center is seeking proposals to:

Support existing Indigenous Knowledge networks to build capacity in remote arctic communities in line with the NOAA Fisheries Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy (e.g., environmental monitoring and knowledge sharing workshops)
Elevate Indigenous Knowledge in existing science for a better understanding of how changing climate conditions affect living marine resources
Conduct collaborative and co-produced research with academic, international, and Indigenous partners at the Inuit Circumpolar Council

Program contact: Laura Hoberecht (laura.hoberecht@noaa.gov)
Eligible applicants: individuals, institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, for-profit organizations, foreign public entities or foreign organizations, and state, local and Indian tribal governments
Application deadline: April 26, 2024
Application information

Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program

The Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program supports projects that will increase sustainability, communication, education, and training on marine resource issues and education for marine-related professions in Alaska. Projects prepare communities for employment in marine-related professions by:

Supporting aquaculture
Increasing seafood and fishing safety, seafood marketing, or management
Increasing the sustainability of fishing practices through technology improvements

Program contact: Kristin Cieciel (kristin.cieciel@noaa.gov, 907-586-7273)
Eligible applicants: individuals (as legal entities, such as sole proprietorships or limited liability companies), institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, state, local and Indian tribal governments
Application deadline: March 29, 2024
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, 907-586-7273)
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 announces the availability of about $2.3 million for collaborative bycatch reduction projects. We invite 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: local, state, and tribal governments; tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; non-profits; commercial organizations; institutions of higher education; small businesses; and individuals
Application deadlines:

Pre-proposals: December 15, 2023
Full proposals: March 20, 2024

Application Information

Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities

The principal objective of this program is to support opportunities for underserved communities, tribes, and/or tribal entities to meaningfully engage in coastal habitat restoration activities. Through this program, NOAA intends to support 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: December 19, 2023
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: Artie Wong (arthur.wong@noaa.gov, 301-427-8454)
Eligible applicants: Stranding Agreement (SA) holders or their designee; Co-Investigators (CI) 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 19, 2023 (2024 deadline TBD)
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: November 7, 2023
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, 301-660-5544)
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)
Monica Keim, PCSRF Program Coordinator (monica.keim@noaa.gov, 503-477-2330)

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, 2024
Application information

Alaska PCSRF Partners

Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal Consortium, AYK Sustainable Salmon Initiative
- Application information (applications due January 16, 2024)
State of Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund
- Application information (applications due June 12, 2024)

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, 907-586-7273)
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 FY24:

Pre-proposals: July 24, 2023
Full proposals: November 21, 2023

Application information

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: October 16, 2023
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: November 08, 2023
Application information

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: Natalie McLenaghan (resilience.grants@noaa.gov, 240-614-3192)
Eligible applicants: institutions of higher education, non-profits, commercial (for profit) organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments
Application deadline: November 17, 2023
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

Climate Ready Workforce for Coastal States, Tribes, and Territories

Sea Grant and the NOAA Climate Program Office, with support from the NOAA Office of Coastal Management, seek to establish programs aimed at at placing people across the country into good jobs that advance climate resilience and assisting employers in developing a 21st century workforce that is climate literate, informed by climate resilience, and skilled at addressing consequent challenges. NOAA will assist communities in coastal and Great Lakes states and territories so they may form partnerships that train workers and place them into jobs that enhance climate resilience.
Application information

Community Partnership Development Grant

Alaska Sea Grant invites proposals for seed grants that support the planning of community-based research partnerships and engagement of communities on research teams. Proposals may request up to $20,000 and projects should occur July 1, 2024 - January 31, 2025. Application deadline: May 28, 2024.
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

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

Alaska Region Funding Opportunities

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