Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS FHQ 2027 33398
The National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) for FY2026/27 is a competitive federal funding opportunity run by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to support practical, field-focused research that helps U.S. fishermen and fisheries (including aquaculture) reduce bycatch. The program is aimed at non-Federal researchers and partners who can develop, improve, and test fishing practices and gear technologies that prevent the capture of non-target species in the first place or reduce injuries and deaths when non-target species are caught and released. In other words, BREP is designed to move beyond purely theoretical studies and instead fund engineering and applied solutions that can be adopted in real commercial and recreational fisheries.
The legal backbone of the program is the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), specifically the requirement that conservation and management measures minimize bycatch "to the extent practicable." BREP exists because Congress established it as a way to spur conservation engineering: things like modified nets, hooks, excluder devices, deterrents, escape panels, alternative bait types, changes to soak times or tow speeds, and other gear or operational adjustments that measurably reduce bycatch and post-release mortality. NMFS also frames this work as a core agency priority under its National Bycatch Reduction Strategy, reflecting the reality that bycatch can drive overfishing, harm threatened and endangered species, and even trigger fishery restrictions or closures that carry major economic consequences for fishing communities.
From a funding mechanics standpoint, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary program using a cooperative agreement, which typically means NOAA expects some level of involvement during the project period (for example, coordination on study design, data collection standards, or dissemination of results). The assistance listing is under CFDA 11.452, and the activity areas are natural resources and research and development. The opportunity number is NOAA NMFS FHQ 2027 33398, and it is managed under DOC NOAA - ERA Production.
Awards under this competition can be as large as $400,000 per project (award ceiling), with NOAA anticipating roughly 30 awards. While the notice does not provide every evaluation detail in the excerpt you shared, the program purpose strongly suggests that proposals will be expected to show clear real-world applicability, a credible plan to test gear or methods (often through at-sea trials or controlled field evaluations), and strong potential to reduce bycatch and/or post-release mortality while keeping fisheries viable. Projects that also help reduce habitat impacts are explicitly within scope, aligning with the broader MSA emphasis on minimizing adverse effects from fishing.
Eligibility is broad, as long as the applicant is not a Federal agency or Federal instrumentality. Eligible applicants include individuals; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and state, county, city/township, and special district governments. U.S. territorial governments are included, as are Alaska Native and Indian tribal governments and other eligible tribal organizations. This wide eligibility is consistent with BREP's mission: getting workable solutions into the hands of fishermen often requires collaboration among universities, gear technologists, fishing industry partners, nonprofits, and state or tribal resource managers.
The application deadline listed is January 22, 2027 (OriginalClosingDate), and the opportunity record shows a creation date of August 24, 2026. Questions from eligible applicants are directed to Justin Pearce at NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries (1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 301-427-8521; email NMFS.HQ.BREP@noaa.gov). For applicants, that contact point is especially useful for confirming fit with program priorities, discussing how NOAA interprets "engineering" or "gear technology" within the program, and clarifying expectations that come with a cooperative agreement structure.
At its core, BREP is about producing tools and practices that fisheries can actually use: gear modifications that let target catch remain economically feasible while avoiding protected species, juveniles, or other non-target catch; methods that make release more survivable when bycatch happens; and innovations that reduce collateral impacts like habitat disturbance. The program is positioned as both a conservation measure and a way to keep fisheries open and productive by addressing bycatch problems before they become crisis-level management issues.Apply for NOAA NMFS FHQ 2027 33398
- The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2026/27" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.452.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-01-22.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) FY2026/27 - FAQs
What is the National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) for FY2026/27?
BREP is a competitive federal funding opportunity run by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to support practical, field-focused research that helps U.S. fishermen and fisheries (including aquaculture) reduce bycatch. The emphasis is on applied engineering and real-world solutions that can be used in commercial and recreational fisheries, rather than purely theoretical studies.
What problem is BREP trying to solve?
BREP targets bycatch, meaning the unintended capture of non-target species. The program supports projects that prevent non-target species from being caught in the first place, or that reduce injuries and deaths when non-target species are caught and released (post-release mortality).
What types of projects does BREP fund?
BREP funds efforts to develop, improve, and test fishing practices and gear technologies that measurably reduce bycatch and/or post-release mortality, with an emphasis on solutions that can be adopted by fisheries in practice.
Does BREP require field testing or real-world trials?
Yes. The program is described as practical and field-focused, and it is intended to move beyond theoretical studies. Projects are expected to include credible plans to test gear or methods, often through at-sea trials or controlled field evaluations.
What are examples of solutions BREP is meant to support?
Examples described for conservation engineering include modified nets, hooks, excluder devices, deterrents, escape panels, alternative bait types, changes to soak times or tow speeds, and other gear or operational adjustments intended to reduce bycatch and post-release mortality.
Can projects address habitat impacts in addition to bycatch?
Yes. Projects that help reduce habitat impacts are explicitly within scope, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) emphasis on minimizing adverse effects from fishing.
What is the legal basis for the BREP program?
The program is grounded in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), including the requirement that conservation and management measures minimize bycatch "to the extent practicable."
How does NMFS frame the program within agency priorities?
NMFS frames BREP as a core agency priority under its National Bycatch Reduction Strategy, recognizing that bycatch can contribute to overfishing, harm threatened and endangered species, and trigger fishery restrictions or closures with economic impacts on fishing communities.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The opportunity is listed as a discretionary program using a cooperative agreement. This typically means NOAA expects some level of involvement during the project period, such as coordination on study design, data collection standards, or dissemination of results.
What is the maximum award amount for a single project?
The award ceiling is $400,000 per project.
How many awards does NOAA expect to make?
NOAA anticipates roughly 30 awards under this competition.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad as long as the applicant is not a Federal agency or Federal instrumentality. Eligible applicants include individuals; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and state, county, city/township, and special district governments. U.S. territorial governments are included, along with Alaska Native and Indian tribal governments and other eligible tribal organizations.
Are Federal agencies eligible to apply?
No. Applicants must not be a Federal agency or a Federal instrumentality.
Are for-profit companies and small businesses eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations, including small businesses, are listed as eligible applicants (as long as they are not Federal instrumentalities).
Are individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. Individuals are specifically listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Alaska Native and Indian tribal governments and other eligible tribal organizations are included in the eligible applicant categories.
Does this program apply only to wild capture fisheries, or does it include aquaculture?
The opportunity is described as supporting U.S. fishermen and fisheries, including aquaculture.
What kinds of applicants is the program aimed at?
The program is aimed at non-Federal researchers and partners who can develop and test practical gear technologies and fishing practices. The description highlights that workable solutions often involve collaboration among universities, gear technologists, fishing industry partners, nonprofits, and state or tribal resource managers.
What is the opportunity number for this funding program?
The opportunity number is NOAA NMFS FHQ 2027 33398.
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The assistance listing is CFDA 11.452.
What are the activity areas associated with this opportunity?
The activity areas are natural resources and research and development.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is January 22, 2027 (OriginalClosingDate).
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of August 24, 2026.
Who do applicants contact with questions about fit or expectations?
Questions from eligible applicants are directed to Justin Pearce at NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries. Contact details: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 301-427-8521; email NMFS.HQ.BREP@noaa.gov.
What kinds of questions is the program contact helpful for?
The contact point is described as especially useful for confirming fit with program priorities, discussing how NOAA interprets "engineering" or "gear technology" within the program, and clarifying expectations that come with a cooperative agreement structure.
Why does BREP emphasize gear and operational changes that fisheries can adopt?
BREP is positioned as both a conservation measure and a way to keep fisheries open and productive by addressing bycatch problems before they become crisis-level management issues. The focus is on tools and practices that maintain economically feasible target catch while avoiding protected species, juveniles, or other non-target catch, and improving survivability when bycatch occurs.
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