Marine Turtle Management and Conservation

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the National Marine Fisheries Service funds conservation, protection, and management actions that promote the recovery of protected sea turtle species under Assistance Listing 11.065, with the most recent opportunity posted on April 29, 2026 and due June 30, 2026.

The current FY 2026 solicitation (NOAA-NMFS-PIR-2026-33156) targets projects that monitor and implement protection measures for western Pacific leatherback sea turtles in the Coral Triangle region (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, or Solomon Islands), North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles in Japan, and endangered marine turtle populations in international waters that benefit U.S. trust resources. Projects must address aggregations of endangered marine turtles with documented linkages to the Pacific Islands Region and demonstrate impact on federally managed commercial fisheries. The program frames this work within NOAA's mission to ensure sustainable management of U.S. commercial longline fisheries and strengthen American fishery competitiveness by managing interactions with endangered species that have triggered fishery closures.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), commercial organizations, for-profit entities, state and local governments, Indian tribal governments (federally recognized and unrecognized), special district governments, and individuals. The program issues both Grants and Cooperative Agreements. Applications are reviewed by the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Program Office and processed by the NOAA Grants Management Division. Review typically completes within 180 calendar days of receipt of a complete and acceptable application, though timelines may extend. The program does not offer formal appeals or project renewal; however, approved ongoing projects may be extended through amendment requests. Recipients must retain grant-related records for three years from submission of the final financial report. Commercial organizations are subject to 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F audit requirements.