Funds under this grant award will be used to support the maintenance of facilities, habitat management, research, data collection and analysis, education, and other activities at protected natural…

The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) received a $4.24 million Sport Fish Restoration (CFDA 15.605) formula grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 4, effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. This award funds habitat restoration, biological monitoring, facility maintenance, and related conservation activities across seven protected natural areas in Puerto Rico. The grant supports fish population management and public access initiatives consistent with the Sport Fish Restoration program's mission to conserve and enhance sport fish populations and their associated resources.

Deliverables under this award include habitat restoration activities, ongoing biological monitoring to track species populations and ecosystem health, routine facility upkeep and infrastructure maintenance at designated protected areas, data collection and analysis to support adaptive management decisions, and education programs for stakeholders and the public. The Sport Fish Restoration program is financed through excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat fuel, and import duties on tackle and yachts, with funds apportioned annually to eligible state and territorial agencies through a legislatively established formula. DNER, as the prime recipient and lead fish and wildlife management agency for Puerto Rico, administers this funding to support long-term environmental stewardship and natural resource management across the territory.

Funds under this grant award will be used to support the maintenance of facilities, habitat management, research, data collection and analysis, education, and other activities at protected natural areas in puerto rico. The puerto rico department of natural and environmental resources proposes to focus on seven protected areas with activities including habitat restoration, biological monitoring, and facility upkeep.