National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2026/27
OpenDOC NOAA - ERA Production · Opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2027-33398
Eligibility
Nonprofits are listed as eligible applicants.
- Public and state controlled institutions of higher education
- City or township governments
- County governments
- Special district governments
- Private institutions of higher education
- State governments
- Individuals
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
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
Description
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.
Funding
| Total program funding | $4,600,000 |
|---|---|
| Award floor | $50,000 |
| Award ceiling | $400,000 |
| Category | Natural Resources, Science and Technology |
| Assistance listing | 11.452 |
Official sources
Last verified on Grants.gov Nov 4, 2026. Grantvello is not affiliated with Grants.gov or DOC NOAA - ERA Production. The notice on Grants.gov is the binding text.