NOAA Fisheries has pledged funds totalling US$95 million as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
These grants will support initiatives aimed at removing barriers to fish migration, protecting vital habitats and strengthening local economies that depend on healthy fish populations.
“Thanks to President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this investment will further NOAA’s efforts to work with partners to bolster safe passage for migratory fish, ensure healthy and sustainable fisheries, support local economies, and help boost communities’ resilience to climate change,” said US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
Every year, millions of fish face obstacles such as dams and culverts which block their migration to spawning and rearing habitats. Fish passage projects help restore these critical migration routes and ensure the health of fish populations.
The two funding opportunities include:
- US$75 million focused on reopening migratory pathways and restoring fish habitats across the US coasts and the Great Lakes.
- US$20 million for tribal organisations to support efforts to remove barriers and build capacity for ongoing fish passage work.
Both opportunities prioritise projects with broad community support, including those that engage underserved and tribal communities. Tribes are eligible to apply for both programmes.
“These investments reflect a continuation of decades of work by NOAA Fisheries to recover threatened and endangered migratory fish and support the sustainability of commercial, tribal and recreational fisheries,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries.
“Our work with tribal organisations to improve fish passage is vital for building long-term tribal capacity to sustain and manage culturally significant resources and habitats.”
Applications are due by 10 February 2025 for the first opportunity and 27 February 2025 for the second.
