Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grants – Fishery Management
🏛 DOC NOAA - ERA Production (DOC-DOCNOAAERA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations working to sustainably manage coral reef fisheries. Eligible applicants include regional fishery management councils, nongovernmental organizations, research institutions, designated coral reef research centers, U.S. states, territories, local governments with coral reef authority, and Native entities with coral reef interests.
Projects must focus on developing or updating fisheries management plans, addressing science gaps in reef fishery management, or advancing ecosystem-based approaches through data analysis and modern management tools.
Applicants must be able to manage a 1-3 year project with awards ranging from $50,000-$200,000 and must contribute cost-sharing to the project.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program provides financial assistance through the Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grants – Fishery Management competition for projects to sustainably manage coral reef fisheries, as authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. § 6410. Projects funded through this competition are for activities that: 1) Develop or update sustainable coral reef fisheries management plans; 2) Address science/information gaps that help advance sustainable management of coral reef fisheries stocks; 3) Advance ecosystem-based fisheries management by modernizing analysis of existing data and application of fisheries management tools. Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be implemented through one- to three-year grants or cooperative agreements. Approximately $1,000,000 is expected to be available for this competition. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program anticipates that awards will range from $50,000-$200,000. NOAA will not accept proposals requesting less than $50,000. Funds will be administered by the Office of Habitat Conservation in conjunction with the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. Funding may be divided among the U.S. Pacific and Atlantic regions to maintain the geographic balance of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program grant portfolio, as required by the Coral Reef Conservation Act. Please see the National Marine Fisheries Service website on the Grant Application Process. You will need to pay close attention to the submission checks section and the common error section. There are common errors that prevent successful application submission and receipt in eRA Commons. Grants.gov may allow you to apply, but eRA Commons will not accept the application if it includes these errors, and therefore NOAA will not receive it. When you apply to this competition, you will receive notification of submission validation from Grants.gov and eRA Commons. Only validated applications are sent to NOAA to review. To ensure successful submission of an application, we strongly recommend that you submit a final and complete application at least two business days prior to the submission deadline. In addition to the Grants.gov automated notification messages, once an electronic application is accepted in eRA Commons, you will receive an automated notification from eRA Commons that the completed application was received and that an application number will be assigned. If there are errors in the application, eRA Common will send an automated email notification(s) of any errors or warnings identified by eRA Commons. You must resolve all eRA Commons errors prior to the application due date for the application to be processed. You should save and print the proof of submission messages from both Grants.gov and eRA Commons. If you do not receive an acceptance message from both Grants.gov and eRA Commons, you should follow up with the eRA Helpdesk at 1-866-504-9552 and the agency contact listed in Section VII to confirm NOAA’s receipt of the complete submission. See Section IV(G) for detailed instructions on submission validation requirements.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Letters of Support
- Proof of Submission from Grants.gov and eRA Commons
Program contact
- 👤 Keisha Trent Grantor
- 📧 Liz.Fairey@noaa.gov
- 📞 3016281449
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 11.482 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$7,116,912
-
$3,500,000
-
$1,947,556
-
$1,529,848
-
$1,529,848
-
$1,490,000
-
$1,450,000
-
$1,437,229
-
$1,423,855
-
$1,406,702
Top States by Funding
- DC 3 awards $12.6M
- HI 10 awards $5.7M
- FL 6 awards $4.8M
- GU 5 awards $4.6M
- AS 4 awards $4.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 11.482). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $7,968,306 | |
| 2025 | $9,843,001 | |
| 2026 est. | $9,306,739 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Regional fishery management councils, nonprofits, research institutions, state/territorial governments with coral reef authority, and Native entities with coral reef interests. Your organization must demonstrate expertise in coral reef conservation or scientific research.
What types of projects does NOAA fund?
Projects that develop or update fisheries management plans, fill science gaps in reef management, or advance ecosystem-based fisheries management through data analysis and modern tools.
What is the deadline and award timeline?
The deadline is July 23, 2026. Awards are 1-3 year grants or cooperative agreements ranging from $50,000-$200,000.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes, this grant requires cost-sharing from your organization. Your proposal must clearly specify your matching contribution.
How competitive is this funding?
Approximately $1,000,000 is available for this competition. Strong proposals clearly connect to sustainable fishery management and demonstrate strong partnerships with relevant agencies or communities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Submit at least two business days before the deadline to allow time for validation errors in Grants.gov and eRA Commons to be resolved.
- Review the NMFS Grant Application Process and common error sections carefully. Applications with certain errors won't pass eRA Commons validation even if accepted by Grants.gov.
- Clearly describe how your project advances sustainable management of coral reef fisheries or fills specific science gaps in existing management.
- Include strong letters of support from relevant fishery management councils, agencies, or affected communities to strengthen competitiveness.
- Verify that your organization meets eligibility requirements and has documented expertise in coral reef conservation or fishery research before investing time in the proposal.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail eRA Commons validation for technical errors not caught by Grants.gov; verify submission with both systems. Proposals lack clear connection to sustainable fisheries management or ecosystem-based approaches that NOAA prioritizes. Applicants request less than $50,000 or fail to include required cost-sharing commitments.
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