2023 International Marine Turtle Management and Conservation Program | NOAA NMFS PIRO 2023 2007700

FAQs: 2023 International Marine Turtle Management and Conservation Program (NOAA/NMFS PIRO)

What is the 2023 International Marine Turtle Management and Conservation Program?

It is a competitive NOAA/NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) funding opportunity that supports on-the-ground conservation, protection, and management actions to help recover sea turtle species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Which agency is offering this funding?

The issuing agency is the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA/NMFS (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / National Marine Fisheries Service), specifically the Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO).

What is the program trying to achieve?

The program is designed to fund practical work that improves conservation outcomes for ESA-listed sea turtles tied to the Pacific Islands Region (PIR), including internationally shared populations that migrate through, forage in, or are impacted by federally managed activities connected to the region.

Which sea turtle populations are the focus?

The focus is on ESA-listed sea turtles found within the Pacific Islands Region and also on internationally shared sea turtle populations that are still closely connected to the PIR through migration routes, foraging areas, or impacts associated with federally managed activities in the region.

Does the program support work outside U.S. waters?

Yes. A key point of this opportunity is that NOAA has management and recovery responsibilities for certain sea turtle populations even when major threats or critical habitats occur outside U.S. waters.

Where does PIRO want projects to be based for the FY2023 competition?

For FY2023, PIRO is specifically seeking projects based outside the United States.

What are the two main FY2023 priorities?

The two main priorities are: (1) monitoring, protecting, and conserving western Pacific leatherback sea turtles in Indonesia and the Solomon Islands; and (2) broader sea turtle management and conservation work in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, the Philippines, or Indonesia) and in Japan, especially work addressing major drivers of sea turtle declines.

Which countries are specifically named as priorities?

Indonesia and the Solomon Islands are named for western Pacific leatherback priorities. Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia (as part of Southeast Asia), plus Japan, are named for broader sea turtle management and conservation priorities.

Why is there a special emphasis on western Pacific leatherbacks?

PIRO highlights that leatherbacks move across national boundaries and face significant risks at nesting beaches and in ocean areas that connect back to the Pacific Islands Region, making targeted international work essential for recovery.

What types of activities are encouraged under this opportunity?

PIRO highlights several focus areas, including reducing fishery bycatch (accidental capture in fishing gear), monitoring nesting beaches to understand population trends and strengthen protection, reducing poaching pressure on turtles and eggs, and addressing illegal sea turtle wildlife trade and trafficking pathways.

Is fishery bycatch reduction an eligible focus area?

Yes. Reducing fishery bycatch is explicitly listed as a focus area for projects under the broader management and conservation priority.

Are nesting beach monitoring and protection activities supported?

Yes. Monitoring nesting beaches to better understand population trends and improve protection is specifically identified as a focus area.

Does the opportunity support efforts to reduce poaching and egg take?

Yes. Reducing poaching pressure on turtles and eggs is called out as one of the key focus areas.

Are projects addressing illegal wildlife trade and trafficking relevant?

Yes. Addressing illegal sea turtle wildlife trade and associated trafficking pathways is included as a focus area, particularly within the broader Southeast Asia and Japan priority.

What kind of award will NOAA make (grant or cooperative agreement)?

The award may be issued either as a grant or a cooperative agreement. This means NOAA may have varying levels of involvement depending on the project structure and oversight needs.

How much funding is available per award?

The maximum funding per award is capped at $120,000.

How many awards does NOAA anticipate making?

Approximately six awards are anticipated in total.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.454.

What broader funding themes does this opportunity fall under?

It is tied to federal funding themes including environment, natural resources, science and technology, and related research and development, with links to business and commerce where relevant (for example, fisheries interactions and trade enforcement).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as "Others," and applicants are expected to consult the specific eligibility clarification in the full announcement. The description notes that opportunities like this often attract qualified non-U.S. and international entities such as conservation organizations, research institutions, universities, and partner agencies capable of implementing field-based turtle conservation in the targeted locations.

Is this a domestic (U.S.-based) funding opportunity?

No. For FY2023, PIRO is specifically seeking projects based outside the United States, even though the program is tied to NOAA's ESA recovery obligations in the Pacific.

When was this opportunity created and what was the deadline?

The opportunity was created on November 10, 2022, and the original application deadline was January 31, 2023.

What makes this opportunity different from a general marine conservation grant?

This opportunity is best understood as a targeted international conservation fund tied to NOAA's ESA recovery responsibilities in the Pacific Islands Region, prioritizing practical and measurable actions that reduce direct human-caused mortality and strengthen nesting beach monitoring and protection.

What kinds of results is PIRO looking for?

Based on the description, PIRO prioritizes practical, measurable actions that reduce direct human-caused mortality (including bycatch, poaching, and illegal trade) and that strengthen monitoring and protection at nesting beaches.