National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2026/27

The National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) is a competitive federal funding opportunity administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Sustainable Fisheries. The program supports non-Federal researchers working to benefit U.S. fishermen and fisheries, including aquaculture, through improved fishing practices and innovative gear technologies. BREP is authorized in part under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which directs NOAA to support technological devices and conservation engineering changes that minimize bycatch, seabird interactions, bycatch mortality, and post-release mortality in federally managed fisheries. The program also supports NOAA and NMFS priorities for reducing the ecological and management consequences of fisheries bycatch. Projects must address at least one of three identified program priorities. The first supports innovative technologies, gear modifications, avoidance programs and techniques, and improved fishing practices for commercial and recreational fisheries or aquaculture that reduce bycatch impacts. The second supports further testing or development of technologies or gear modifications that have already demonstrated successful bycatch reduction and could encourage adoption at the fleet or fishery scale. The third focuses on improving understanding and reducing post-release and other indirect mortality, including mortality associated with barotrauma, decompression sickness, predation, depredation, and unaccounted mortality. Competitive projects should also address relevant research and management priorities of Fishery Management Councils, NMFS Regions and Science Centers, Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions, Marine Mammal Take Reduction Teams, or similar bodies. Preference is given to proposals involving collaboration with U.S. industry and/or fishermen. Up to $4,600,000 in federal funding may be available to support approximately 20 to 30 projects. Individual projects are expected to receive approximately $50,000 to $400,000, and NOAA does not anticipate funding proposals requesting more than $400,000 in federal funding. Funding is contingent on the availability of appropriations, and publication of the funding announcement does not obligate NOAA to make an award. Applicants should propose a period of performance of 12 to 18 months. The requested project start date must be the first day of a month and the end date must be the last day of a month. The earliest project start date is August 1, 2027. Awards will be cooperative agreements because NOAA expects substantial scientific or programmatic involvement while the recipient retains primary responsibility for the project. Cost sharing may be included voluntarily but is not required and is not part of the evaluation criteria. Generally allowable costs may include necessary and reasonable salaries, equipment, supplies, and training under applicable federal cost principles. Eligible applicants include individuals, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and state, local, U.S. territorial, Alaska Native, and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies and instrumentalities are not eligible to receive federal assistance under this notice, although federal scientists may participate as uncompensated partners. Applicants are encouraged to establish collaborations through subawards, contracts, unfunded partnerships, or other arrangements. Applicants are responsible for obtaining all required Federal, State, and local permits and approvals. Research affecting marine mammals or threatened or endangered species may require applicable MMPA or ESA permits or authorizations. Applications must also address NOAA environmental review requirements and include sufficient information regarding project activities, locations, affected species and habitats, construction activities, and environmental concerns. A required pre-proposal must be emailed to NMFS.HQ.BREP@noaa.gov by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 5, 2026. The pre-proposal may not exceed two single-spaced pages and must describe the project title, background and applicable BREP priorities, rationale, management applicability, industry involvement, research objectives, general methodology, required permits and permit numbers if applicable, and estimated budget. A separate cover page must provide the project title, primary investigator names, affiliations, addresses, email and telephone information, estimated total budget, and project duration. NOAA expects to notify pre-proposal applicants by November 25, 2026 whether submission of a full proposal is encouraged or not encouraged. Applicants who submitted complete and timely pre-proposals and otherwise meet the requirements remain eligible to submit a full proposal regardless of whether NOAA encourages or discourages submission. Full proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 22, 2027. Full applications include the SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, CD511, a one-page Project Summary, a Project Narrative limited to 15 pages, appendices or attachments limited to 15 pages, and a Budget Narrative with no stated page limit. A Data Management Plan of up to two pages is required. The Project Narrative addresses the problem, objectives, project methodology, milestones, permitting, expected impacts and benefits, need for government assistance, relationships with government activities, project management, management and fisheries impacts, education and outreach, and project evaluation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit through Grants.gov and must complete applicable SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov registrations. NOAA recommends submitting a final and complete electronic application at least two business days before the deadline to allow time to resolve validation errors. Full applications first undergo an administrative review and then a technical merit review by at least three independent reviewers. The 100-point technical evaluation assigns 35 points to importance, relevance, and applicability to program goals; 35 points to technical and scientific merit; 10 points to applicant qualifications; 10 points to project costs; and 10 points to outreach and education. Applications above the technical cutoff may proceed to panel review, followed by selection that may also consider funding availability, geographic and institutional balance, partners, research priorities, project types, duplication, prior award performance, participation of targeted groups, and environmental review information. Subject to funding availability, proposal review is expected during the 120 days following the full proposal deadline, with funding beginning during 2027 for most approved projects and projects generally not expected to start before August 1, 2027. Program questions may be directed to Justin Pearce, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, at NMFS.HQ.BREP@noaa.gov or 301-427-8521.

Directly connect the project to a BREP priority and relevant fisheries management need; clearly explain management applicability and a credible path to implementation; meaningfully incorporate U.S. fishermen into project design; use realistic objectives and technically appropriate methods with measurable evaluation; demonstrate relevant applicant experience; provide a reasonable and well-justified budget; develop a specific outreach and results dissemination strategy; identify required permits early because ESA and MMPA permit processing can take upwards of one year; submit the complete electronic application at least two business days before the deadline so Grants.gov and eRA Commons validation errors can be resolved