FY26 Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grants - Fishery Management
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program is offering FY26 Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grants for fishery management to support projects that improve the sustainable management of coral reef fisheries. The program funds work to develop or update fisheries management plans, address science and information gaps, and advance ecosystem-based fisheries management through better use of existing data and management tools. Projects are expected to be one- to three-year grants or cooperative agreements, with a required 1:1 non-federal match that may be waived in some cases, and applications are evaluated for technical merit and administrative compliance while aligning with the draft National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by July 23, 2026, awards are anticipated to range from $50,000 to $200,000, and the program expects about $1,000,000 in total funding; administrative or technical questions may be directed to Liz Fairey.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are regional fishery management councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), nongovernmental organizations or research institutions that have demonstrated expertise in coral reef conservation or restoration and/or scientific research; designated coral reef research centers, U.S. states, territories, or local governments with authority over coral reefs; and Native entities with interests in a coral reef ecosystem.