Saltonstall Kennedy Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 11.427
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- 598 $170,390,373 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- The Saltonstall Kennedy Program
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 13-5139-0-2-376
- 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 within the Department of Commerce operates the Saltonstall Kennedy Program (CFDA 11.427) to promote and develop U.S. fisheries through marketing, research, development, and infrastructure, drawing from import duties on fishery products. The most recent grant award was issued September 1, 2026, with a full proposal competition due November 25, 2024.
Award activity remains steady but has declined sharply in recent years. The program has funded 598 grants since 2000, obligating $170.4 million in federal dollars (combined total obligated with non-federal share: $183.8 million). Annual award volume peaked at 42 in 2022 and 38 in 2023, then dropped to 5 in 2024 and 15 in 2025; only one award has been issued in 2026 to date. Project Grants dominate the portfolio at 96 percent (573 awards), with Cooperative Agreements representing 4 percent (25 awards).
The program funds fisheries research, development, and marketing across wild capture, aquaculture, and recreational fishing. Recent awards show concentration on aquaculture development—scallop and oyster hatchery optimization, shellfish disease management, and native species restoration in Hawaii—alongside value-added seafood product development, market research for underutilized species, and fishing gear innovation (particularly ropeless technologies for marine mammal protection). Representative recent awards include $500 thousand to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute for value-added processing methodology (September 2026), $1 million to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for stakeholder fishery management forums (March 2025), and $321 thousand to University of New Hampshire for Atlantic herring population genomics (March 2025). Work is conducted up to 24 months; review typically completes within 180 calendar days but may exceed that timeline. NOAA is the sole funding agency.
Two active opportunities are currently posted. The FY25 Saltonstall-Kennedy Full Proposal Competition (solicitation NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2025-26868) closed November 25, 2024, and accepted grants or cooperative agreements from small businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and for-profit organizations addressing promotion and marketing; development, infrastructure, and capacity building; or science and technology that enhances sustainable U.S. fisheries. The National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2025-28846), a Cooperative Agreement opportunity, supports technological solutions and fishing practice changes to minimize bycatch and protected-species impacts, with a revised due date of March 21, 2025.
Objective and description
- Objective
The purpose of this program is to promote and develop U.S. fisheries through marketing, research, and development, creating a dedicated fund from import duties on fishery products to support the U.S. industry's needs.
- Description
The purpose of this program is to promote and develop U.S. fisheries through marketing, research, and development, creating a dedicated fund from import duties on fishery products to support the U.S. industry's needs.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Any U.S. citizen or national, or any citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, or the Federated States of Micronesia; or group including State and local governments, except that employees of Federal agencies, and Regional Fishery Management Councils and their employees, are not eligible.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Any U.S. citizen or national, or any citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, or the Federated States of Micronesia; or group including State and local governments.
- Uses of assistance
Proposals must respond to funding priorities in the annual solicitation. Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of the fisheries resources in the region over which the resource extends as well as the issues/problems involving such fisheries. Issues/problems addressed in the project should be supported by industry experience.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Grants are not to exceed 24 months. Financial status reports are completed and submitted.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
A listing of State single points of contact under E.O. 12372 is available at www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/lawsregs/eo.htm.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Significance of the issue addressed in the proposal, methodology proposed, responsiveness to published priorities, cost proposed, etc.
- Award procedure
Proposals are reviewed after the submission deadline in competition with all other proposals submitted. To the extent that funds are available, those proposals judged to best meet priorities are funded. Either grants or cooperative agreements will be awarded.
- Time to approval or disapproval
A date range will change depending on the review process. Usually within 180 calendar days from the receipt of a complete and acceptable application but may exceed that timeline.
- Renewals
Projects of up to 24-month durations will be considered. Proposals for continuing work must be competed.
- Appeals
No formal appeal procedure. If application is unacceptable the reasons are fully stated to the applicant. If the applicant desires to resubmit application, project must be revised in accordance with recommended changes.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2025 | Closed | ||
| FY25 Saltonstall-Kennedy Full Proposal Competition | Closed | ||
| FY25 Saltonstall-Kennedy Pre-Proposal Competition | Closed | ||
| FY24 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition | Closed | ||
| FY23 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition | Closed | ||
| FY22 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition | Closed | ||
| FY21 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition | Closed | ||
| FY20 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition | Closed | ||
| FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition | Closed | ||
| FY18 Saltonstall Kennedy Competition | Closed | ||
| 2016 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Research Program | Closed | ||
| 2014/2015 Saltonstall Kennedy (2014/15 S-K) | Closed |
Show all 12
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 598 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Institute Of Marine Science | $7,996,898 | 5% |
| 2 | University Of Maine System | $5,218,163 | 3% |
| 3 | University System Of New Hampshire | $3,918,047 | 2% |
| 4 | Gulf Of Maine Research Institute | $3,613,676 | 2% |
| 5 | University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth | $3,040,447 | 2% |
| 6 | Alaska Department Of Fish & Game | $2,399,566 | 1% |
| 7 | San Jose State University Research Foundation | $2,392,232 | 1% |
| 8 | University Of Washington | $2,380,180 | 1% |
| 9 | Pacific Shellfish Institute | $2,188,009 | 1% |
| 10 | University Of Hawaii | $2,103,489 | 1% |
10 of 215 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $476,559 |
| FY2025 | $7,248,677 |
| FY2023 | $21,063,223 |
| FY2022 | $22,523,590 |
| FY2021 | $10,778,734 |
| FY2020 | $7,714,789 |
| FY2019 | $1,171,408 |
| FY2018 | $8,940,761 |
| FY2017 | $10,015,973 |
| FY2016 | $11,054,234 |
| FY2015 | $25,099,061 |
| FY2014 | $10,562,204 |
| FY2013 | -$189,083 |
| FY2012 | -$345,235 |
| FY2011 | -$61,501 |
| FY2010 | $5,461,575 |
| FY2009 | $7,012,111 |
| FY2008 | $2,423,878 |
| FY2006 | $5,000,000 |
| FY2005 | $2,099,960 |
| FY2004 | $250,000 |
| FY2003 | $7,864,900 |
| FY2002 | $3,419,555 |
| FY2001 | $850,000 |
Show all 24
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.427?
Assistance Listing 11.427 is Saltonstall Kennedy Program, a federal grant program run by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce).
What is the CFDA number for Saltonstall Kennedy Program?
Its CFDA number is 11.427: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 11.427 awarded?
598 grant awards under 11.427 have obligated $170,390,373 in federal funds to 215 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 11.427?
The recipients obligated the most under Saltonstall Kennedy Program are Virginia Institute Of Marine Science ($7,996,898), University Of Maine System ($5,218,163) and University System Of New Hampshire ($3,918,047).
How much did 11.427 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 11.427 obligated $7,248,677 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 11.427?
No opportunity listed under 11.427 is open now. The latest, National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2025, was posted on October 9, 2024.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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