NOAA Fisheries has announced $95 million in funding opportunities to support new fish passage projects across the U.S., with one program specifically focused on tribal initiatives. These projects aim to protect and restore migratory fish and their habitats, benefiting communities and economies reliant on these resources.
According to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, this funding will help NOAA strengthen migratory routes for fish, support local economies, and boost resilience against climate impacts.
Each year, millions of migratory fish are blocked by human-made barriers like dams and culverts, preventing them from reaching spawning and rearing habitats essential for reproduction and population growth. Fish passage projects are designed to reopen these pathways, improving fish migration and restoring habitats.
The funding is divided into two opportunities:
- $75 million for the Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal program, supporting projects that reopen migratory pathways along the coasts and Great Lakes.
- $20 million for the Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal program, assisting tribes and tribal organizations in implementing fish passage work and developing tribal capacity to continue these efforts.
NOAA Fisheries has long worked to recover migratory fish populations and support sustainable commercial, tribal, and recreational fisheries. Projects that show broad community support and include strategies to engage diverse community groups, including tribes and underserved communities, will receive priority.
Tribal organizations may apply to both funding opportunities to enhance tribal capacity in barrier removal efforts and develop new fish passage projects for culturally significant species.
Applications for the Restoring Fish Passage funding are due February 10, 2025, while the deadline for the Tribal Priority Fish Passage funding is February 27, 2025. More information on these opportunities is available through NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation or at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/two-fish-passage-funding-opportunities-now-open-one-focused-tribes.
