2026 Marine Mammal Co-Management Grant Program
Grant Opportunity Analysis
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is offering the 2026 Marine Mammal Co-Management Grant Program to support Alaska Native Organizations in conserving marine mammals and advancing co-management of subsistence use under NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction through cooperative agreements. The program can fund species management, subsistence harvest monitoring and sampling, scientific research, public education and outreach, and related conservation activities tied to program priorities. Awards are expected to run from 12 months to three years, and proposals should align with applicable recovery or conservation plan priorities and will be evaluated for relevance to program goals, technical merit, project management, and cost-effectiveness. Eligible applicants are Alaska Native Organizations with an existing marine mammal co-management agreement with NOAA Fisheries, and proposals for species under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction will not be considered. About $1.5 million is available for FY26, with proposals due May 31, 2026 at 7:59 PM Alaska Standard Time, and applicants must use SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov and submit complete applications at least two business days before the deadline.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are limited to Alaska Native Organizations (ANOs) (defined as a group designated by law or formally chartered which represents or consists of Indians, Aleuts, or Eskimos residing in Alaska) with an established marine mammal agreement for co-management with NOAA Fisheries. All applicants must have a signed co-management agreement in place with NOAA Fisheries at the time of application. In a case where an ANO has authorized another entity to serve as the fiduciary agent of the organization, a copy of the agreement between the ANO and fiduciary agent must be provided with the application. This agreement must outline a thorough description of the relationship and responsibilities of both parties. The ANO will be listed as the lead entity/organization on the application as reflected in the agreement. Any ANO not holding an existing agreement for co-management with NMFS may collaborate with and be listed on the application as a sub-recipient under an eligible applicant.