Fisheries Disaster Relief
Active
- Assistance listing
- 11.477
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- 39 $721,072,257 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Fisheries Disaster Assistance Program
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- 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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funds fishery resource disaster relief under Assistance Listing 11.477, with the most recent grant award made January 1, 2025. This program responds to fishery disasters declared by the Secretary of Commerce under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, supporting both direct economic assistance to affected fishing communities and restoration or prevention activities.
The program has disbursed $721.1 million in federal funds across 39 awards since 2000, with steady recent activity: awards were made in each of 2023–2025, at rates of 6–7 per year in 2023–2025. The funding agency pool is singular—NOAA Fisheries administers all awards. The assistance mix is predominantly Project Grants (87 percent, 34 awards) with a smaller share of Cooperative Agreements (13 percent, 5 awards). Recent awards typically span three to four years and range widely in magnitude, from under one million dollars to more than $193 million.
Awarded activities vary by disaster context. Direct payments dominate many grants: the Yurok Tribe received $8.2 million for 2021–2022 Klamath River commercial fishery disaster relief with planned supplementation and genetic-based fishery management. Mississippi and Louisiana received funds for direct payments to shrimp and seafood industries and oyster reef restoration following 2019 spillway flooding. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission administered grants exceeding $40 million addressing Alaska crab and salmon fishery disasters, including restoration research and community economic support. Smaller grants fund discrete research, such as a $796,133 award to Stony Brook University and Cornell Cooperative Extension for selective breeding of bay scallop stocks in New York's Peconic Estuary.
Projects are eligible for up to five years of funding; continuation beyond year one depends on annual appropriations and satisfactory recipient performance. Applications require submission 120 days before the requested project start date and receive review within 180 calendar days, though timelines may extend. No formal appeal mechanism exists; applicants may resubmit revised applications if initially declined. The source contains no currently open grant opportunities.
Objective and description
- Objective
This program supports fishery resource disasters that are determined by the Secretary of Commerce in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
- Description
This program supports fishery resource disasters that are determined by the Secretary of Commerce in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Eligible applicants are agencies of State governments or fishing communities for programs to provide assistance to fishing communities (including fishing vessel owners, operators, and crew and United States fish processors that are based in such community).
- Beneficiary eligibility
This program directly benefits fishing communities (including fishing vessel owners, operators, crew, and U.S. fish processors based in such communities) that are adversely affected by commercial fishery failures due to a fishery resource disaster.
- Uses of assistance
Funds can be used for assessing the effects of commercial fishery failures, or restoring fisheries or preventing future failures, and assisting fishing communities affected by the failures. However, the Secretary of Commerce must first determine that the activity will not expand the commercial fishery failure in that fishery or into other fisheries or other geographical regions.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Varies. Award funds must be spent in the indicated budget period and are expended in accordance with OMB Cost Principles and DOC financial and reporting procedures. 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
- Award procedure
Proposals are initially evaluated by the pertinent National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) office, region science center, or their component laboratories, and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, competency of the applicant to perform the proposed work, potential contribution of the project to national or regional goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects recommended for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval.
- Deadlines
Project applications must be received by the receiving NMFS office at least 120 days before the requested start date of the project.
- 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.
- 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 awards
Latest 10 of 39 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission | $462,779,493 | 64% |
| 2 | Louisiana Department Of Wildlife And Fisheries | $116,569,680 | 16% |
| 3 | Mississippi Department Of Marine Resources | $45,574,267 | 6% |
| 4 | Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission | $14,092,815 | 2% |
| 5 | Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission | $11,247,889 | 2% |
| 6 | Alabama Department Of Conservation And Natural Resources | $8,638,262 | 1% |
| 7 | Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission | $7,804,188 | 1% |
| 8 | North Carolina Department Of Environmental Quality | $7,720,272 | 1% |
| 9 | Department Of Natural Resources | $4,500,401 | 1% |
| 10 | Natural Resources South Carolina Department | $3,934,307 | 1% |
10 of 11 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $31,757,010 |
| FY2024 | $373,417,560 |
| FY2023 | $186,410,585 |
| FY2022 | $7,720,272 |
| FY2021 | $51,340,403 |
| FY2020 | $18,919,062 |
| FY2015 | -$892,185 |
| FY2010 | $15,166,332 |
| FY2004 | $108,535 |
| FY2003 | $668,617 |
| FY2002 | $4,645,500 |
| FY2001 | $31,991,898 |
Show all 12
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.477?
Assistance Listing 11.477 is Fisheries Disaster Relief, a federal grant program run by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce).
What is the CFDA number for Fisheries Disaster Relief?
Its CFDA number is 11.477: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 11.477 awarded?
39 grant awards under 11.477 have obligated $721,072,257 in federal funds to 11 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 11.477?
The recipients obligated the most under Fisheries Disaster Relief are Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission ($462,779,493), Louisiana Department Of Wildlife And Fisheries ($116,569,680) and Mississippi Department Of Marine Resources ($45,574,267).
How much did 11.477 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 11.477 obligated $31,757,010 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
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