Species Recovery Grants to States (Section 6 Program)

Key Facts

Status: Forecasted

Posted date: April 21, 2026

Archive date: July 20, 2026

Close date: June 20, 2026

Opportunity ID: 361998

Opportunity number: NOAA-NMFS-PRPO-2026-31825

Opportunity category: Discretionary

Agency name: DOC NOAA - ERA Production

Agency code: DOC-DOCNOAAERA

Award floor: $0

Award ceiling: $250,000

Cost sharing required: No

Funding Instrument Types
  • Cooperative Agreement
  • Grant
Category of Funding Activity
  • Environment
  • Natural Resources
  • Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Eligible Applicants
  • State governments
Tools
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
  • agency_code:doc_docnoaaera
  • category_of_funding_activity:environment
  • category_of_funding_activity:natural_resources
  • category_of_funding_activity:science_and_technology_and_other_research_and_development
  • cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:false
  • eligible_applicants:state_governments
  • funding_instrument_type:cooperative_agreement
  • funding_instrument_type:grant
  • opportunity_category:discretionary
  • status:forecasted
Description

States play an essential role in conserving and recovering species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1535. Listed species under NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) jurisdiction may spend all or part of their life cycles in state waters, and success in conserving these species depends largely on working cooperatively with the States. NMFS is authorized to provide Federal assistance to eligible State agencies to support the development and implementation of conservation programs for listed marine and anadromous species that reside within that State. This assistance, provided in the form of grants or cooperative agreements through the Species Recovery Grants to States Program, can be used to support conservation activities for any endangered or threatened species, as well as monitoring candidate species, recently delisted species, and species proposed for listing under the ESA. Funded activities may include development and implementation of management efforts, scientific research, and public education and outreach. Proposals should seek to address priority actions in ESA Recovery Plans or Recovery Outlines to the extent possible. Any State agency that has entered into an agreement with NMFS pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA or enters into such an agreement within 30 days of the application deadline is eligible to apply under this solicitation. Proposals focusing on Pacific salmonids will not be considered for funding under this grant program; such projects may be considered through the NMFS Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. Additionally, proposals focusing on marine mammals stranding response and/or rehabilitation will not be considered for funding under this grant program; such projects may be considered and funded by NOAA through the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. Proposals focused on stranding response, rehabilitation, or related activities for species supported through other dedicated NOAA funding programs may also not be considered under this grant program. This document describes how to submit proposals for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2026 and how NMFS will evaluate and select proposals for funding should funding be appropriated for this program. This document should be read in its entirety; some information has changed from the previous year.

Species Recovery Grants to States (Section 6 Program)
States play an essential role in conserving and recovering species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1535. Listed species under NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) jurisdiction may spend all or part of their life cycles in state waters, and success in conserving these species depends largely on working cooperatively with the States. NMFS is authorized to provide Federal assistance to eligible State agencies to support the development and implementation of conservation programs for listed marine and anadromous species that reside within that State. This assistance, provided in the form of grants or cooperative agreements through the Species Recovery Grants to States Program, can be used to support conservation activities for any endangered or threatened species, as well as monitoring candidate species, recently delisted species, and species proposed for listing under the ESA. Funded activities may include development and implementation of management efforts, scientific research, and public education and outreach. Proposals should seek to address priority actions in ESA Recovery Plans or Recovery Outlines to the extent possible. Any State agency that has entered into an agreement with NMFS pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA or enters into such an agreement within 30 days of the application deadline is eligible to apply under this solicitation. Proposals focusing on Pacific salmonids will not be considered for funding under this grant program; such projects may be considered through the NMFS Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. Additionally, proposals focusing on marine mammals stranding response and/or rehabilitation will not be considered for funding under this grant program; such projects may be considered and funded by NOAA through the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. Proposals focused on stranding response, rehabilitation, or related activities for species supported through other dedicated NOAA funding programs may also not be considered under this grant program. This document describes how to submit proposals for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2026 and how NMFS will evaluate and select proposals for funding should funding be appropriated for this program. This document should be read in its entirety; some information has changed from the previous year.
[Forecasted] Species Recovery Grants to States (Section 6 Program)
Forecasted
DOC NOAA - ERA Production
Environment
Natural Resources
Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Cooperative Agreement
Grant
State governments
2026-04-21