NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Fisheries Grant Program
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA Fisheries
$25,000–$500,000
Federal grants for U.S. fisheries and seafood businesses
The Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant Program funds projects that promote, develop, and market U.S. marine fisheries and aquaculture. Unusually for a federal program, for-profit small businesses are explicitly eligible. Grants of $25,000–$500,000 support three priority areas: (1) promotion and marketing of U.S. seafood, (2) development, infrastructure, and capacity-building for fishing communities, and (3) science or technology addressing fishing community needs. Projects must have a clear connection to commercial, recreational, or aquaculture fishing communities.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $25,000 – $500,000
- Realistic amount
- Most awarded projects fall in the $100,000–$350,000 range. Projects requesting under $100,000 have a dedicated funding p…
- Deadline
- Annual — pre-proposal typically due in July/August; invited full proposals due November. FY25 pre-proposals closed July 23, 2024; full proposal deadline November 25, 2024.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or a U.S.-based entity (public or private, for-profit or nonprofit)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses are ineligible — for-profit eligibility applies to small businesses only
- Project must directly benefit U.S. commercial, recreational, or aquaculture fishing communities
- Projects must address one of three Priority Areas: (1) Promotion/Marketing; (2) Development/Infrastructure/Capacity; or (3) Science/Technology
- Principal Investigators and Co-PIs cannot be federal employees or current AFAC members
- NOAA contractors cannot serve as Co-PIs
- Maximum 3 pre-proposals and 3 full proposals per entity per competition cycle
Hard requirements
- Restricted to industry: commercial, recreational, or aquaculture fishing
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Seafood marketing campaigns, market research, and promotional materials
- Development of new markets for underutilized U.S. fish species
- Fishing infrastructure improvements (gear, equipment, vessel upgrades supporting community access)
- Technology development addressing fishing community needs (gear selectivity, bycatch reduction, sustainability tools)
- Training programs for fishing community members
- Aquaculture development and business feasibility studies
- Export market development for U.S. seafood products
Ineligible expenses
- Profit margin on cost-plus contracts
- Travel unrelated to project implementation
- Federal employee salaries or travel
- Pre-award costs (costs incurred before the grant start date)
- Fund-raising activities
- Purchase of land or buildings
How to apply
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1
Register in SAM.gov and Grants.gov
Register at SAM.gov (4–6 weeks) and Grants.gov (2–4 weeks) before the pre-proposal deadline. UEI number from SAM.gov required. Submit applications at least 2 days before the deadline to ensure system validation.
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2
Write and submit 2-page pre-proposal
Prepare a 2-page pre-proposal addressing the 4 scoring criteria: Need/Relevance (0–30 pts), Objectives/Approach (0–25 pts), Fishing Community Connection (0–30 pts), and Project Benefit (0–15 pts). Submit via grants.gov by the summer deadline (typically July/August).
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3
Receive invitation to submit full proposal
NOAA reviews all pre-proposals and invites sufficiently-scored applicants to submit a full proposal. Invitation typically received within 8–10 weeks of the pre-proposal deadline.
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4
Submit full proposal with detailed budget
Full proposals include project narrative, detailed budget (indirect costs, salaries, equipment), letters from fishing community partners, and all supporting documentation. Submitted via grants.gov by the November deadline.
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5
Award review and notification
NOAA reviews and awards grants; notification typically occurs January–March following the November full proposal deadline. Project periods are up to 24 months.
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 114111, 114112, 114119, 114210, 311710
Projects requesting ≤$100K have a dedicated funding pool and compete against fewer applicants. First-time applicants from for-profit fishing businesses should partner with a sea grant institution or university — it dramatically strengthens the 'Fishing Community Connection' scoring criterion.
Deadline & timing
Annual two-stage competition. Pre-proposals (2-page max, scored 0–100) submitted to grants.gov each summer. Only invited applicants (scored sufficiently) advance to full proposal stage in fall. SAM.gov registration required — allow 4–6 weeks.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.