Fish Assemblages and Genetic Stock Determination of Salmon in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve | P20AS00061

Opportunity Information: Apply for P20AS00061

The Fish Assemblages and Genetic Stock Determination of Salmon in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P20AS00061) is a National Park Service initiative under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on building foundational, on-the-ground knowledge about fish communities in and around Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA) in Alaska. The core purpose is to establish a baseline inventory of fish assemblages in key river drainages that flow through the preserve, with special emphasis on Pacific salmon, so that park managers and partners can detect, interpret, and respond to changes in species presence, distribution, and habitat use over time. This kind of baseline is framed as essential for practical decision-making related to land use, conservation priorities, and restoration planning, particularly when managers need to identify habitats that are sensitive, culturally important, or especially valuable for subsistence.

A major driver for the work is the rapid environmental change occurring along BELA's coastal and riverine systems. As conditions shift, salmon habitat availability and productivity can change in ways that are hard to anticipate without detailed biological and genetic information. The opportunity highlights that understanding genetic relationships among salmon populations can help determine which groups are distinct, which are closely related, and how vulnerable certain populations might be if habitats are lost or runs decline. By documenting genetic stock structure, the project aims to support stronger stewardship of both ecological resources and subsistence opportunities, ensuring that management actions are informed by evidence about population uniqueness and connectivity rather than assumptions.

The planned effort is described as a three-year collaborative field study targeting four major river systems within BELA: the Serpentine, Nuluk, Arctic, and Nugnugaluktuk rivers. The work is organized around three measurable objectives. First, the project will document fish species assemblages in these rivers, emphasizing the presence and composition of Pacific salmon alongside other fish species that contribute to subsistence and ecosystem function. Second, it will evaluate genetic variation within salmon species and assess whether the collected data can support mixed stock analysis, which is a method used to estimate the stock or population origins of salmon in mixed aggregations and can be valuable for understanding movement patterns and management impacts. Third, the project will collect age, sex, and length data (ASL) from salmon that are sampled for genetic work, adding key life history information that can be used to interpret run structure, population health, and demographic trends.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, categorized under information and statistics and natural resources (CFDA 15.945). The notice was created on April 15, 2020, with an original closing date of April 21, 2020. The opportunity is explicitly identified as a notice of intent to award, and applications are restricted: only the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is eligible to receive this award and no other entities may apply. The expected number of awards is one, with an award ceiling of $320,000, reflecting a targeted partnership approach to accomplish field sampling, genetic analysis, and baseline data development in support of long-term monitoring and conservation planning in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the information and statistics, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fish Assemblages and Genetic Stock Determination of Salmon in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 15, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2020 This is a notice of intent to award to the Alaska Department of Fish amp Game. Applications will not be accepted by any entity other than the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $320,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for P20AS00061

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: