The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of florida to help administer the states…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the Florida Department of Environmental Protection $17.277 million under the Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards program (CFDA 11.419) on November 1, 2025, to administer Florida's federally approved Coastal Management Program.

The award funds administration of the state's coastal management program addressing coastal hazards, habitat protection and restoration, water quality, coastal community development, shoreline and harbor management, and public access. Specific activities include management of 43 aquatic preserves; dune walkover projects at Mexico Beach and Longboat Key; invasive species removal; historical submerged artifact identification; sponge habitat restoration; and the Partnership Initiative, which provides small awards to typically underserved coastal communities.

Period of performance runs from November 1, 2025 through March 31, 2027, with administrative oversight in Tallahassee, Florida. NOAA's investment of over $3.1 million leverages over $2 million in state funds.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute is developing a comprehensive hard-bottom sponge restoration strategy to guide procedures and policies governing long-term sponge restoration efforts in the Florida Keys' hard-bottom habitats (sub-award NA25NOSX419C0077-CZ827, awarded November 21, 2025). The Bureau of Archaeological Research, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, is assessing and protecting submerged cultural resources within FDEP's geophysical dataset to identify and manage archaeological sites at risk (sub-award NA25NOSX419C0077-CZ818, awarded June 23, 2026).

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of florida to help administer the states federally approved coastal management program. The national coastal zone management program, under the coastal zone management act, is an important voluntary federal-state partnership that protects, restores, and responsibly develops our nations coastal communities and resources by balancing economic development, coastal uses, and natural resource protection. Noaas investment of over $3.1M is leveraging over $2M in state funds. These funds will support jobs and provide continued assistance to florida's coastal management program to address many important coastal issues in the state including; coastal hazards, habitat protection, habitat restoration, water quality, coastal community development, shoreline and harbor management, and public access. For example, one project identifies historical submerged artifacts while another focus on sponge habitat restoration. The funding also supports 43 aquatic preserves and their management. The award also supports new initiatives such as two dune walkover projects at mexico beach and longboat key. As well as an invasive species removal thereby increasing public access to natural resources. The award is also funding a number of local projects or initiatives including: the partnership initiative which provides small awards to communities along the coast which are typically underserved.