Eligibility
- Nominees must reside in the United States or a U.S. territory.
- Nominees must have demonstrated exceptional achievement and dedication to marine, coastal, or riverine habitat conservation.
- Contributions may include work to protect, restore, manage, or study marine, coastal, or riverine habitats, and the species these ecosystems support, with a focus on enhancing fish populations, fishing opportunities, recreation, and other community benefits.
- Individuals or small groups may be nominated for their work, volunteer efforts, support, or other contributions to coastal, marine, or riverine habitat conservation.
- We encourage the nomination of individuals at any stage of their career (early, middle, or late).
- Nominations previously submitted (and not awarded) may be resubmitted with an updated nomination form and any new supporting documents.
How to Apply
- Complete the 2026 nomination form, and attach a description of achievements.
- Provide electronic examples of nominees’ work, including most relevant publications (only citations and abstracts, please), public outreach, links to videos, news articles, or other materials.
- Include a minimum of two letters of support with the nomination package.
- Submit the full nomination package (nomination form, description of achievements, examples of work, and letters of support) as a single pdf in an email to: FosterAward.nominations@noaa.gov by June 1, 2026.
- For more information, please contact: Alex.McOwen@noaa.gov, (301) 427-8710.
Nomination Form
Download the nomination form for the Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award (PDF, 5 pages)
