National Marine Fisheries Service: Species Recovery Grants to Tribes

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recognizes the unique importance of many protected species to tribes and values ongoing efforts by tribal nations to conserve and protect species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1535. NMFS is authorized to provide Federal assistance to tribes to support conservation programs for listed marine and anadromous species under its jurisdiction. This assistance, provided in the form of grants or cooperative agreements, can be used to support conservation of endangered, threatened, and candidate species or species proposed for listing, as well as post-delisting monitoring of recovered species. Proposals that address the recovery of one of the following endangered species are also encouraged as part of the agency’s Species in the Spotlight initiative: Gulf of Maine distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic salmon, white abalone, Cook Inlet DPS of beluga whales, Hawaiian monk seals, Pacific leatherback sea turtles, North Atlantic right whales, and southern resident DPS of killer whales. Funded activities may include development and implementation of management plans, scientific research, and public education and outreach. Only federally recognized tribes and organizations of federally recognized tribes, such as the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, that have delegated authority to represent a federally recognized tribe on matters relating to ESA listed, candidate, or proposed species, are eligible to apply. Proposals focusing on listed, candidate, or proposed species of Pacific salmon or steelhead will not be considered for funding under this grant program; such projects may be supported through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. This document describes how to prepare and submit proposals for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2021 and how NMFS will determine which proposals will be funded. This document should be read in its entirety as some information has changed from previous announcements.

Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this notice. In addition, NOAA and NMFS employees shall not provide assistance by writing or reviewing any part of an application, write letters of support for any application, or otherwise confer any unfair advantage on a particular application. However, proposed activities can involve collaboration with current NMFS programs or NMFS employees, and NMFS employees can submit letters verifying that they would collaborate on a particular project if funded. Applicants must contact the Federal Program Officer listed in Section VII, Agency Contacts, prior to submission for guidance if collaborating with a NMFS program or NMFS employee. The level of collaboration may dictate whether the funding is awarded through a grant or cooperative agreement.

Applicants not meeting these eligibility criteria will not be considered for funding under this solicitation.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recognizes the unique importance of many protected species to tribes and values ongoing efforts by tribal nations to conserve and protect species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1535. NMFS is authorized to provide Federal assistance to tribes to support conservation programs for listed marine and anadromous species under its jurisdiction. This assistance, provided in the form of grants or cooperative agreements, can be used to support conservation of endangered, threatened, and candidate species or species proposed for listing, as well as post-delisting monitoring of recovered species. Proposals that address the recovery of one of the following endangered species are also encouraged as part of the agency’s Species in the Spotlight initiative: Gulf of Maine distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic salmon, white abalone, Cook Inlet DPS of beluga whales, Hawaiian monk seals, Pacific leatherback sea turtles, North Atlantic right whales, and southern resident DPS of killer whales. Funded activities may include development and implementation of management plans, scientific research, and public education and outreach. Only federally recognized tribes and organizations of federally recognized tribes, such as the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, that have delegated authority to represent a federally recognized tribe on matters relating to ESA listed, candidate, or proposed species, are eligible to apply. Proposals focusing on listed, candidate, or proposed species of Pacific salmon or steelhead will not be considered for funding under this grant program; such projects may be supported through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. This document describes how to prepare and submit proposals for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2021 and how NMFS will determine which proposals will be funded. This document should be read in its entirety as some information has changed from previous announcements.