Sea Grant Support
Active
- Assistance listing
- 11.417
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- 2,501 $2,549,907,061 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- National Sea Grant College Program
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 13-1450-0-1-306
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Grant Support Program (Assistance Listing 11.417) funds applied marine research, education, and extension activities supporting the management of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources through predominantly Cooperative Agreements (75% of awards) paired with Project Grants (25%), with the most recent award issued August 1, 2026.
The program has disbursed $2.55 billion in federal dollars across 2,501 awards since 2000, with award volume averaging 130 per year over the past five years (128 in 2025, 195 in 2024, 182 in 2023). Recent activity shows both federal and cost-shared funding: recipients have obligated $4.41 billion total (combined federal and non-federal), indicating a $1.86 billion non-federal match contribution. NOAA is the sole funding agency under this program.
Funded activities span applied research, extension, workforce development, and policy work. Recent awards illustrate the breadth: ecosystem-based modeling for Hawaiian reef fisheries and salmon migrations using machine learning; cold-pool oceanography in the Mid-Atlantic supporting longfin squid management; severe weather preparedness extension in the Southeast; shellfish farm compliance software development in North Carolina; marine aquaculture internships and apprenticeships across multiple states; economic feasibility studies for oyster aquaculture; policy research on aquaculture regulations; and American lobster fishery coordination. Notable larger awards include a $5.15 million American Lobster Initiative collaborative ($1.59 million for North Carolina shellfish mariculture infrastructure, $1.47 million for Pacific Coast shellfish farm ecological research), and $1.5 million to support minority-serving institution aquaculture partnerships regionally.
Recent solicitations remain active. The FY2027 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship (NOAA-OAR-SG-2027-32433) offers $97,200 per fellowship with more than 35 anticipated awards; the most recent posting closed August 26, 2026, but the program runs annually. FY2025 competitions posted through early 2025 targeted aquaculture business strengthening ($5 million ceiling, updated 50% cost-share requirement), legal and policy work ($100–250 thousand range), aquaculture internships ($100–500 thousand), and American Lobster regional coordination (Northeast programs only). Eligibility includes universities, public and private entities, state agencies, and individuals; federal personnel may serve as uncompensated partners but cannot be prime recipients.
Objective and description
- Objective
To support the establishment and operation of major university centers for marine resources research, education, and training and to support marine advisory services. Some individual efforts in these same areas also receive funding.
- Description
The Sea Grant Program is the only federal program that provides funding for Applied Research, combined with Sea Grant Extension activities to transfer knowledge from the laboratory to the user community to better manage our Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes resources.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Universities, colleges, junior colleges, technical schools, institutes, laboratories; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity; any State, political subdivision of a State or agency or officer thereof; any individual. Eligible entities are listed in all Notices of Funding Opportunities published on grants.gov.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Organizations and individuals with professional interest in marine affairs.
- Uses of assistance
Funding is provided to address Coastal, Ocean and Great Lakes issues and may be used for projects focusing on research and development, education and training, technology transfer and advisory services.
- Use restrictions
The Sea Grant Act at 33 USC 1124(d)(2) states: "No payment under any grant or contract under this section may be applied to: (A) the purchase or rental of any land; or (B) the purchase, rental, construction, preservation, or repair of any building, dock, or vessel; except that payment under any such grant or contract may be applied to the short-term rental of buildings or facilities for meetings which are in direct support of any Sea Grant Program or project and may, if approved by the Secretary, be applied to the purchase, rental, construction, preservation, or repair of non-self-propelled habitats, buoys, platforms, and other similar devices or structures, or to the rental of any research vessel which is used in direct support of activities under any Sea Grant Program or project."
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Funding is normally provided in annual increments for multi year awards.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
See individual Notice of Funding Opportunities available on grants.gov.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Applications are judged on the degree to which they contribute to the purposes of the Act, along with their relevance to the oceans, Great Lakes, and the marine environment. They are also judged on expected results and benefits, soundness of scientific approach, cost effectiveness, and other factors. Specific selection factors are included in all Notice of funding opportunities issued by the National Sea Grant College Program.
- Award procedure
Awards are made competitively on the basis of proposal evaluation.
- Time to approval or disapproval
From 90 to 180 days from time of proposal submission.
- Renewals
Renewals and extensions are determined by the NOFO and or in negotiation with Sea Grant Office.
Grant opportunities
Show 38 more
Latest 48 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 2,501 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of California San Diego | $154,728,213 | 6% |
| 2 | The University Of Southern Mississippi | $106,787,104 | 4% |
| 3 | University Of Hawaii | $90,541,275 | 4% |
| 4 | University Of Florida | $90,162,655 | 4% |
| 5 | University Of Washington | $83,651,882 | 3% |
| 6 | Oregon State University | $81,718,225 | 3% |
| 7 | Virginia Institute Of Marine Science | $74,333,113 | 3% |
| 8 | University Of Wisconsin System | $69,462,212 | 3% |
| 9 | University Of Maine System | $68,723,316 | 3% |
| 10 | University Of Alaska Fairbanks | $68,488,957 | 3% |
10 of 134 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $135,909,197 |
| FY2025 | $233,320,025 |
| FY2024 | $326,970,982 |
| FY2023 | $302,443,630 |
| FY2022 | $154,350,632 |
| FY2021 | $98,709,128 |
| FY2020 | $95,398,325 |
| FY2019 | $83,991,056 |
| FY2018 | $79,396,361 |
| FY2017 | $75,083,415 |
| FY2016 | $71,147,855 |
| FY2015 | $68,510,161 |
| FY2014 | $65,165,836 |
| FY2013 | $57,358,180 |
| FY2012 | $61,455,974 |
| FY2011 | $63,185,574 |
| FY2010 | $73,958,166 |
| FY2009 | $35,616,290 |
| FY2008 | $28,802,725 |
| FY2007 | $43,595,557 |
| FY2006 | $67,938,181 |
| FY2005 | $69,004,222 |
| FY2004 | $68,139,432 |
| FY2003 | $68,054,276 |
| FY2002 | $61,070,711 |
| FY2001 | $60,574,309 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.417?
Assistance Listing 11.417 is Sea Grant Support, a federal grant program run by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce).
What is the CFDA number for Sea Grant Support?
Its CFDA number is 11.417: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 11.417 awarded?
2,501 grant awards under 11.417 have obligated $2,549,907,061 in federal funds to 134 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 11.417?
The recipients obligated the most under Sea Grant Support are University Of California San Diego ($154,728,213), The University Of Southern Mississippi ($106,787,104) and University Of Hawaii ($90,541,275).
How much did 11.417 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 11.417 obligated $233,320,025 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 11.417?
None of the latest 48 opportunities under 11.417 is open now. The latest, Fiscal Year 2027 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, was posted on June 8, 2026.
On GovTribe
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