NOAA Fisheries has announced two funding opportunities totaling $95 million to support new fish passage projects. Projects will help protect and restore migrating fish and their habitats, and support communities and economies that depend on these resources.

Every year, millions of fish attempt to migrate to their spawning and rearing habitats to reproduce. They are often blocked from completing their journey by human-made barriers, such as dams and culverts. When fish cannot reach their habitat, they cannot reproduce and maintain or grow their populations. Fish passage projects reopen these pathways and help protect and restore migrating fish and their habitats. 

The $75 million Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal will fund projects that reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish across the coasts and Great Lakes. The application deadline is February 10, 2025.

The $20 million Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal will support tribes and tribal organizations in implementing fish passage work and building tribal capacity to sustain these efforts. The application deadline is February 27, 2025. 

Projects that demonstrate a broad base of community support will be prioritized, as well as projects developed with inclusive practices that incorporate meaningful strategies to engage a diverse range of community groups, including tribes and underserved communities.

Learn more here.