The Alaska Native Organization Comanagement Grant Program, administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), aims to support the conservation and co-management of marine mammals vital to Alaska Native subsistence practices. This initiative stems from the statutory authority granted by 16 U.S.C. §1388, which permits federal assistance to Alaska Native Organizations (ANOs) and Tribes for this purpose. NMFS acknowledges the centrality of marine mammals in Alaska Native cultures and seeks to fund projects that contribute to their conservation, recovery, and sustainable use through cooperative agreements.

The program’s primary objectives are to promote local involvement in marine mammal science and management, ensure the sustainable subsistence use of these species, and foster conservation and recovery efforts. Key priorities include harvest monitoring, integration of Indigenous knowledge, subsistence use management, collaborative research, public education and outreach, cooperative management with NMFS, and support for food security amidst environmental changes. Proposals must align with at least one of these priorities and clearly outline how proposed actions contribute to these goals.

Funding may support a broad range of activities such as subsistence harvest monitoring, species-specific research projects, public outreach campaigns, educational programming, and revision or development of co-management agreements. Projects must pertain to marine mammals under NMFS jurisdiction. Activities involving species managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are not eligible. The program anticipates approximately $1.5 million in total funding for fiscal year 2025, with award periods ranging from one to three years. Individual award amounts will depend on proposal content and available appropriations.

Eligible applicants are limited to Alaska Native Organizations or Federally recognized Tribes with existing co-management agreements with NMFS. These agreements must be in place at the time of application. ANOs without such agreements can only participate as sub-recipients. No cost-sharing or matching is required. All proposals must include documentation verifying eligibility, such as a signed co-management agreement, legal status verification, organizational by-laws, and policies and procedures.

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 7:59 PM Alaska Standard Time on April 2, 2025. The application package includes several federal forms (SF-424 series, CD-511, and others), a project narrative of no more than 27 pages, a budget narrative, and several appendices including resumes, letters of support, and NEPA questionnaires. Successful applicants will be notified in June 2025, and projects may start as early as September 1, 2025.

Proposals are evaluated based on relevance to program goals, technical merit, project management, and budget justification. Review involves an initial screening for completeness, followed by a panel review and final selection by the NOAA Regional Administrator. While proposals are ranked by score, the selecting official retains discretion based on factors such as geographic distribution, institutional diversity, and prior performance.