NOAA Fisheries has announced up to $99 million in grants through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, targeting conservation and restoration projects for Pacific salmon and steelhead along the West Coast and in Alaska.
The funding, which draws from base appropriations and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is open to eligible applicants in Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, as well as federally recognized tribes of the Columbia River Basin and Pacific coast. Individual proposals may request up to $25 million.
"The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund has a strong track record of supporting states and tribes in completing projects that support the economy," said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. "The projects help increase Pacific salmon populations, which sustain federal ocean fisheries and benefit tribes."
The agency says the program aligns with the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness by boosting domestic salmon and steelhead production, creating jobs — particularly in rural areas — and increasing the supply of U.S.-caught seafood.
Applicants will be required to meet standards set by the Executive Order on Gold Standard Science, including submission of interdisciplinary budgets and adoption of open-data protocols to support independent replication and public transparency.
Fishing guide Butch Smith, who also serves as vice chair of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, made the case for habitat investment. "Habitat is our savings account—it's our bank account that supports the salmon we rely on," Smith said. "When we take care of it, we see a huge return on that investment, not just to the Northwest, but to the nation and everyone who values this great salmon resource."
To be eligible, projects must address at least one of three priorities: conserving salmon or steelhead populations listed or at-risk under the Endangered Species Act; maintaining populations necessary for tribal treaty or native subsistence fishing; or conserving Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead habitat.
NOAA points to the Oregon Coast coho salmon recovery as evidence of the program's effectiveness. Habitat improvements helped strengthen the coho population enough to reopen a recreational fishery, generating economic activity in coastal communities. Broader research cited by the agency finds that most protected salmon and steelhead populations that have been the focus of habitat work have increased in number.
The application deadline is June 29, 2026. NOAA expects to announce recommended selections in September 2026. Full application instructions are available through NOAA Fisheries.
