This grant program provides competitive grants to non-Federal researchers working to benefit U.S. fishermen and fisheries, including aquaculture, through the development of improved fishing practices and innovative gear technologies. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended (MSA), 16 U.S.C. 1865, requires that NOAA’s conservation and management measures minimize bycatch to the extent practicable and established the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) to support the development of technological devices and other conservation engineering changes to minimize bycatch and reduce post-release mortality of non-target species in our nation’s fisheries. Bycatch reduction is a priority for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as outlined in the NMFS National Bycatch Reduction Strategy (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/bycatch/national-bycatchreduction-strategy). Fisheries bycatch can contribute to overfishing, population declines for threatened and endangered species, and can result in commercial fishery closures. This Program seeks to support the development and testing of fishing gears and approaches that can be applied in commercial and recreational fisheries to reduce bycatch and post-release mortality and address the MSA requirements to minimize bycatch and habitat impacts.
National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2026/27
DOC NOAA - ERA Production · Opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2027-33398
Details summarized from the official notice as of Oct 15, 2026. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and requirements in the official notice before applying.
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Key facts
| Opportunity number | NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2027-33398 |
|---|---|
| Agency | DOC NOAA - ERA Production Department of Commerce |
| Assistance listing (ALN, formerly CFDA) | 11.452 |
| Posted | Aug 24, 2026 |
| Deadline | Jan 22, 2027 |
| Award ceiling | $400,000 |
| Award floor | $50,000 |
| Expected number of awards | 30 |
| Estimated total program funding | $4,600,000 |
| Cost sharing or matching required | No |
| Funding type | Cooperative agreement |
| Category | Natural resources |
| Last updated here | Oct 15, 2026 |
Summary from the notice
Who can apply
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible:
- County governments
- City or township governments
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Special district governments
- State governments
- Individuals
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Private colleges and universities
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
- Others named in the notice (see the eligibility text)
- Public and state colleges and universities
- Federally recognized tribal governments
Who should take a closer look
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits
- Colleges and universities
- State governments
- Local governments
- Tribal governments and organizations
- Larger for-profit companies
- Individuals
Eligibility details from the notice
Eligible applicants are individuals, institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and state, local, U.S. territorial, Alaska Native, and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or instrumentalities are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this notice. If an eligible applicant has questions regarding this funding opportunity, they should contact: Justin Pearce Office of Sustainable Fisheries 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-427-8521 NMFS.HQ.BREP@noaa.gov
Registrations you will likely need
Most applications submitted through Grants.gov need the following. Registration can take several weeks, so start early. The notice lists the exact requirements.
- SAM.gov registration for your organization, which also gives you a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Registration is free.
- A Login.gov account, which Grants.gov uses for sign-in.
- A Grants.gov applicant registration linked to your organization's UEI.
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