Biden administration declares USD 260 million available for new fish passage projects

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has announced two competitive funding opportunities for new fish passage projects with a total of USD 260 million (EUR 236 million) up for grabs.

“Fish are essential to the culture, economy, and way of life of so many communities and tribes. Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re going to help local and tribal communities restore passage and build capacity to increase the number of migratory fish across the country,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “Beyond fish recovery, these investments will also create good jobs and bolster climate resilience across communities.”

The first initiative, the Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Notice of Funding Opportunity, provides USD 175 million (EUR 159 million) for reopening migratory pathways and restoring healthy habitat for fish. Proposals can receive funding between USD 1 million and 20 million (EUR 909,000 and 18 million).

The second initiation, the Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Notice of Funding Opportunity, provides USD 85 million (EUR 77 million) to support tribes and tribal organizations in establishing and sustaining fish passages. Proposals can receive funding between USD 300,000 and 12 million (EUR 273,000 and 10.9 million).

“NOAA Fisheries restores, opens, and maintains habitat for fish by removing or finding ways around barriers to fish passage and improving in-stream conditions,” NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit said. “This valuable work helps recover threatened and endangered migratory fish, and supports the sustainability of economically important commercial and recreational fisheries.”

Applications for the Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal are due 16 October, 2023, and applications for the Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage are due 8 November, 2023.

The opportunities are two of several NOAA Fisheries is rolling out this year with funding provided through both Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, according to the Biden administration. So far, NOAA Fisheries has doled out USD 480 million (EUR 436 million) for 109 projects over four funding opportunities.

Last month, the federal government revealed its framework for distributing USD 2.6 billion (EUR 2.4 billion) in Inflation Reduction Act funding set aside for coastal resilience and fisheries support. That plan included USD 390 million (EUR 364 million) for habitat restoration, fish passages, hatcheries, and other tribal priorities. Approximately USD 240 million (EUR 224 million) of that funding is dedicated to salmon hatcheries for tribal governments.

The federal government said it will distribute that funding over 638 contracts beginning this summer.