Regional Fishery Management Councils
Active
- Assistance listing
- 11.441
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- 202 $1,086,270,236 in federal obligations
Program facts
- 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 Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funds fishery management planning, coral reef ecosystem assessment, and data collection activities conducted by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils under Assistance Listing 11.441, with the most recent grant award dated October 1, 2025.
This is a non-competitive, congressionally mandated program. The eight councils—New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Pacific, North Pacific, and Western Pacific—prepare, monitor, and revise fishery management plans and data collection programs for domestic and foreign fishing within the 200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Award funding supports baseline council operations including staff salaries, meeting logistics, and management plan development, alongside targeted research projects addressing emerging priorities. Recent awards fund coral reef ecosystem assessment using acoustic and visual survey technologies, citizen science fish-length data collection in partnership with academic institutions and nonprofits, spawning aggregation monitoring, climate-resilient fisheries management planning, commercial fisheries capacity-building scholarships for Pacific territories, fishing fleet economic support through fuel subsidies, traditional fishing practice revival programs, and geospatial data platform development to track coral species distribution and ecosystem health.
The program is exclusively funded by NOAA across 202 awards totaling $1.09 billion in federal obligation. Funding accelerated in 2024 and 2025 (10 and 15 awards respectively) after lower volume in 2021–2023. The assistance-type mix is predominantly Cooperative Agreements (172 awards, 85 percent) with a smaller share of Project Grants (30 awards, 15 percent). Recent multi-year administrative cooperative agreements to the councils themselves range from $19 million to $51.8 million over five years. Smaller targeted projects range from under $150 thousand to approximately $350 thousand.
An open opportunity exists for FY 2025 Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grants targeting the Regional Fishery Management Councils with a deadline of February 25, 2025. Approximately $1 million is expected to be available, with individual awards anticipated in the $125 thousand to $300 thousand range. The solicitation priorities improvements to shallow coral reef fishery compliance and management through better scientific information and ecosystem-based approaches. The application review window from receipt of a complete application typically runs 180 calendar days but may extend beyond that timeline. Multi-year awards are available for up to five years contingent on fund availability and recipient performance.
Objective and description
- Objective
The objectives of the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils are to prepare, monitor and revise fishery management plans and data collection programs for domestic and foreign fishing within the 200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is
- Description
The objectives of the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils are to prepare, monitor and revise fishery management plans and data collection programs for domestic and foreign fishing within the 200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is done with approval and implementation by the Secretary of Commerce who has stewardship responsibility for living marine resources in the EEZ under the MSFCMA.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils (New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Pacific, North Pacific and Western Pacific) as established by the MSFCMA. These councils can best be described as "quasi-government" because they are sponsored by the Federal government, specifically funded by Congress but the members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from the private sector; they are not Federal employees.
- Beneficiary eligibility
This program benefits commercial and recreational fishing enterprises in the EEZ. Foreign fishing enterprises may also benefit from this program if authorized to conduct fishing operations. U.S. consumers will benefit as a result of availability of seafood. Imports may be reduced and exports may be increased.
- Uses of assistance
Funds are used by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils to prepare plans and amendments to recommend to the Secretary of Commerce, under the MSFCMA.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Awards can be approved for one year due to annual Congressional appropriation schedule. Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Criteria for proposals is located in the NOFO. Refer to program guidelines
- Criteria for selecting proposals
This program is non- competitive. It is Congressionally mandated.
- Award procedure
Applications are initially evaluated by the respective National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrators and are forwarded to NMFS Headquarters for final approval. They are then forwarded for processing to the Grants Management Division, Office of Administration, NOAA.
- 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
No renewal. However, an approved on-going project can be extended by submission of an amendment request. Multiple year awards of up to five years may be approved. Funding for multi-year projects beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of program funds in subsequent fiscal years, and the extent to which the recipient meets project objectives and reporting requirements
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 202 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council | $181,810,620 | 17% |
| 2 | Pacific Fishery Management Council | $146,580,541 | 13% |
| 3 | New England Fishery Management Council | $133,584,571 | 12% |
| 4 | North Pacific Fishery Management Council | $133,162,468 | 12% |
| 5 | South Atlantic Fishery Management Council | $122,836,839 | 11% |
| 6 | Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council | $106,861,772 | 10% |
| 7 | Caribbean Fishery Management Council | $68,364,777 | 6% |
| 8 | Gulf Of Mexico Fishery Management Council | $63,232,996 | 6% |
| 9 | Gulf Of Mexico Fishery Management Council | $50,878,968 | 5% |
| 10 | Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission | $135,940 | <1% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $78,179,771 |
| FY2025 | $131,555,802 |
| FY2024 | $123,628,110 |
| FY2023 | $122,406,761 |
| FY2022 | $54,426,277 |
| FY2021 | $33,208,947 |
| FY2020 | $34,813,387 |
| FY2019 | $34,582,225 |
| FY2018 | $32,926,378 |
| FY2017 | $33,390,963 |
| FY2016 | $30,913,879 |
| FY2015 | $31,122,203 |
| FY2014 | $29,703,209 |
| FY2013 | $27,598,231 |
| FY2012 | $30,971,786 |
| FY2011 | $31,626,519 |
| FY2010 | $33,901,701 |
| FY2009 | $25,202,237 |
| FY2008 | $22,928,589 |
| FY2007 | $23,433,087 |
| FY2006 | $21,880,596 |
| FY2005 | $21,530,877 |
| FY2004 | $22,458,374 |
| FY2003 | $13,213,001 |
| FY2002 | $20,707,751 |
| FY2001 | $19,928,585 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.441?
Assistance Listing 11.441 is Regional Fishery Management Councils, a federal grant program run by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce).
What is the CFDA number for Regional Fishery Management Councils?
Its CFDA number is 11.441: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 11.441 awarded?
202 grant awards under 11.441 have obligated $1,086,270,236 in federal funds to 10 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 11.441?
The recipients obligated the most under Regional Fishery Management Councils are Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council ($181,810,620), Pacific Fishery Management Council ($146,580,541) and New England Fishery Management Council ($133,584,571).
How much did 11.441 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 11.441 obligated $131,555,802 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 11.441?
No opportunity listed under 11.441 is open now. The latest, FY25 Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grants - Fishery Management Council Cooperative Agreements, was posted on December 27, 2024.
On GovTribe
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