Site icon fundsforNGOs

Marine Turtle Conservation Grants for Sustainable Fisheries (United States)

fundsforngos
Sustainable Fisheries Fund - United States

Deadline: 30-Jun-2026

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking applications for the FY26 Marine Turtle Conservation for Sustainable U.S. Fisheries Grant Program. The program supports projects that conserve endangered marine turtle populations in the Pacific Ocean while strengthening the sustainable management of U.S. commercial fisheries and supporting NOAA’s marine turtle recovery obligations.

Program Overview

The FY26 Marine Turtle Conservation for Sustainable U.S. Fisheries Grant Program is administered by NOAA and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The program supports conservation, monitoring, research, protection, and capacity-building projects for endangered marine turtle populations linked to U.S. trust resources and Pacific fisheries management.

The funding opportunity focuses on western Pacific leatherback sea turtles, North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, and international conservation collaboration across Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

Program Purpose

The purpose of the program is to conserve endangered marine turtle populations and support sustainable U.S. commercial fisheries in the Pacific Ocean.

Projects funded under this opportunity must generate useful scientific data for recovery planning, population assessments, Endangered Species Act Biological Opinions, and fisheries management decisions.

The program supports NOAA’s stewardship of living marine resources and its obligations to protect marine turtles while managing U.S. commercial longline fisheries sustainably.

Key Funding Details

Approximately $700,000 is expected to be available annually under this funding opportunity.

NOAA anticipates making 4 to 6 awards.

Projects may be funded for up to three years, subject to availability of federal funds and satisfactory performance.

Key funding points include:

Funding by Priority Area

Funding requests vary by program priority.

Applicants may request:

Applicants should ensure that their request matches the correct priority area and proposed project scope.

Key Focus Areas

The program focuses on marine turtle conservation, fisheries sustainability, and data-driven recovery planning.

Key focus areas include:

Priority 1: Western Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation

Priority 1 supports projects that conserve western Pacific leatherback sea turtles in the Coral Triangle region and nearby Pacific areas.

Eligible countries under Priority 1 include:

Supported activities may include:

Priority 2: North Pacific Loggerhead Sea Turtle Conservation in Japan

Priority 2 supports projects that conserve North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles in Japan.

Supported activities may include:

This priority focuses on improving scientific understanding and reducing threats to loggerhead sea turtles connected to Pacific fisheries and conservation planning.

Priority 3: International Conservation Capacity and Collaboration

Priority 3 supports broader international conservation capacity and collaboration across Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

Supported activities may include:

This priority aims to strengthen conservation systems, improve regional collaboration, and support practical tools that can be used across marine turtle conservation programs.

Who Is Eligible?

The program is open to a broad range of eligible applicants.

Eligible applicants include:

Federal agencies and federal employees are not eligible to apply.

Cost Sharing Requirement

No cost-sharing or matching contribution is required.

Applicants may submit proposals without providing matching funds, although they should still present a realistic and well-justified budget.

Geographic and Regional Relevance

Projects must demonstrate relevance to the Pacific Islands Region and NOAA’s marine turtle recovery obligations.

Applicants proposing international activities must show that they have the necessary permits, authorizations, partnerships, and implementation capacity to conduct work in the proposed locations.

Projects should clearly explain how the proposed activities support endangered marine turtle populations linked to U.S. trust resources and sustainable fisheries management.

Data and Scientific Requirements

Projects must produce scientific data that can support conservation planning and fisheries management.

Data may be used for:

Scientific data generated through funded projects must be shared with NOAA/NMFS for archiving and use in conservation planning and fisheries management.

Turtle Capture and Handling Requirements

Projects involving turtle capture and handling must follow NOAA data collection requirements.

Required data may include:

Applicants should clearly describe handling protocols, permits, ethical procedures, safety measures, and data management plans where turtle capture or handling is involved.

Why This Program Matters

Endangered marine turtles face serious threats from habitat loss, poaching, fisheries bycatch, climate impacts, and pressures on nesting and foraging areas.

This program matters because it supports conservation actions that protect marine turtle populations while also improving the sustainable management of U.S. commercial fisheries.

By funding monitoring, research, bycatch reduction, satellite tracking, genetic analysis, and international collaboration, the program helps generate the data and partnerships needed to guide recovery planning and reduce fisheries-related impacts.

How the Program Works

The program works by funding eligible projects that address one or more of the three priority areas.

The implementation process includes:

  1. Applicants identify the relevant program priority.
  2. Applicants design a project focused on marine turtle conservation, research, monitoring, protection, capacity building, or fisheries sustainability.
  3. The proposal explains how the project supports NOAA’s marine turtle recovery obligations.
  4. The project generates data relevant to recovery planning, population assessments, Endangered Species Act Biological Opinions, or fisheries management.
  5. Funded projects may be implemented for up to three years.
  6. Data and findings are shared with NOAA/NMFS for archiving and conservation use.
  7. Project results support endangered marine turtle recovery and sustainable U.S. fisheries management.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a proposal that clearly connects project activities to NOAA’s conservation and fisheries management goals.

Application Preparation Steps

  1. Confirm applicant eligibility
    Applicants should confirm that they are an eligible U.S. organization, higher education institution, nonprofit, commercial organization, individual, state or local government, or Native American tribal government.
  2. Select the correct priority area
    Applicants should choose Priority 1, Priority 2, or Priority 3 based on the species, geography, and activities proposed.
  3. Define the conservation problem
    The proposal should clearly describe the marine turtle population, threat, data gap, or management need being addressed.
  4. Describe project activities
    Applicants should explain planned activities such as nesting beach surveys, habitat protection, satellite telemetry, bycatch reduction, genetic sampling, workshops, toolkit development, or local risk assessments.
  5. Show relevance to NOAA priorities
    The proposal should demonstrate how the project supports the Pacific Islands Region, marine turtle recovery obligations, U.S. trust resources, and sustainable fisheries management.
  6. Include data collection plans
    Applicants should explain what data will be collected, how it will be analyzed, and how it will support recovery planning or fisheries management.
  7. Address permits and authorizations
    Applicants conducting international work should demonstrate that they have or can obtain the necessary permissions, permits, and local authorizations.
  8. Explain partner capacity
    Applicants should describe local partners, technical capacity, field experience, and ability to implement work in the proposed locations.
  9. Prepare a budget within the funding limits
    The requested amount should match the relevant priority area and be appropriate for the proposed work.
  10. Plan for NOAA data sharing
    Applicants should describe how scientific data will be shared with NOAA/NMFS for archiving and conservation use.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid submitting proposals that are not clearly connected to NOAA’s marine turtle recovery and fisheries management needs.

Common mistakes include:

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong application should be species-specific, data-driven, and clearly linked to conservation outcomes.

Applicants should:

Key Terms Explained

Marine Turtle Conservation

Marine turtle conservation refers to activities that protect sea turtle populations, habitats, nesting beaches, migratory routes, and foraging areas while reducing threats such as poaching and fisheries bycatch.

Sustainable Fisheries

Sustainable fisheries are fisheries managed in a way that supports long-term fishery productivity while reducing harm to protected species and marine ecosystems.

Bycatch

Bycatch refers to non-target species accidentally caught during fishing operations. For marine turtles, bycatch can be a major threat in coastal and pelagic fisheries.

Satellite Telemetry

Satellite telemetry uses tracking devices to monitor the movements, habitat use, survivorship, and migration patterns of marine animals.

Genetic Sampling

Genetic sampling involves collecting biological material to understand population structure, origin, diversity, and connectivity among turtle populations.

Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion

An Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion is a formal document that evaluates whether a federal action may affect listed species or critical habitat and identifies measures to reduce harm.

INFORMED Recovery Planning

Recovery planning uses scientific data to identify actions needed to protect endangered species, improve population status, and reduce threats over time.

Morphometric Data

Morphometric data refers to measurements of an animal’s body size and physical characteristics, such as shell length, shell width, and weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FY26 Marine Turtle Conservation for Sustainable U.S. Fisheries Grant Program?

It is a NOAA/NMFS funding opportunity that supports projects conserving endangered marine turtles and strengthening sustainable U.S. commercial fisheries in the Pacific Ocean.

How much funding is expected to be available?

Approximately $700,000 is expected to be available annually.

How many awards are expected?

NOAA anticipates making 4 to 6 awards.

How long can projects last?

Projects may be funded for up to three years, subject to federal funding availability and satisfactory performance.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include U.S. organizations, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, individuals, state and local governments, and Native American tribal governments.

Are federal agencies eligible?

No. Federal agencies and federal employees are not eligible to apply.

Is cost sharing required?

No. Cost sharing or matching contributions are not required.

What does Priority 1 support?

Priority 1 supports conservation of western Pacific leatherback sea turtles in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

What does Priority 2 support?

Priority 2 supports conservation of North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles in Japan, including nesting beach monitoring, threat management, bycatch data collection, and bycatch reduction technologies.

What does Priority 3 support?

Priority 3 supports international conservation capacity and collaboration, including workshops, toolkits, rapid bycatch assessments, marine protected area planning, and satellite telemetry innovation.

What data must be shared with NOAA/NMFS?

Scientific data generated through funded projects must be shared with NOAA/NMFS for archiving and use in conservation planning and fisheries management.

Conclusion

The NOAA FY26 Marine Turtle Conservation for Sustainable U.S. Fisheries Grant Program supports critical conservation work for endangered marine turtles linked to Pacific fisheries and U.S. trust resources. By funding monitoring, protection, satellite telemetry, genetic analysis, bycatch reduction, capacity building, and international collaboration, the program helps strengthen marine turtle recovery planning, improve fisheries management, and advance the long-term sustainability of U.S. commercial fisheries in the Pacific Ocean.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

Exit mobile version