The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Coastal Program is a community-based program that helps coastal areas with technical and financial support to address complex conservation challenges of priority coastal ecosystems. This support is mainly provided through cooperative agreements with conservation partners and landowners, including state and Tribal agencies. The goal is to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitats on both public and private lands.
Coastal Program staff work with partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs in important areas for conservation. They set goals and priorities for habitat conservation in these focus areas. The program has specific lists of priority species and focus areas for each U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service region. Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from the Coastal Program are required to contact a local Program office BEFORE developing or submitting an application.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis between January 1, 2025, and September 30, 2025. In order for applications to be considered for funding in FY25, they must be submitted before May 30, 2025. Applications received after May 30, 2025, may not be awarded until the following fiscal year, subject to fund availability
• Species Conservation: The program works on habitat projects in specific areas to help protect species at risk. This includes federally listed species, Birds of Conservation Concern, pollinators, and interjurisdictional fish. The goal is to improve the conservation status of these species of concern.
• Habitat Connectivity: The program connects habitats to make them better for wildlife. Connected habitats and migration paths are vital for fish and wildlife. These projects can also support other conservation efforts, like National Wildlife Refuges and other protected lands.
• Resilient Ecosystems: The program aims to make ecosystems healthier and more resilient for fish, wildlife, plants, and people. The program works with different partners to take action that helps ecosystems be more resilient to changes and benefits communities that depend on them.