Best Fisheries Grants in Puerto Rico

Nonprofits and agencies working on fisheries, habitat, and coastal ecosystem projects in Puerto Rico can seek competitive funding to tackle urgent estuary threats. Focused on estuary and watershed restoration, Restore America’s Estuaries administers this EPA-supported program, offering US $200,000 - US $500,000 for projects within designated National Estuary Program boundary areas.

The Steven Berkeley Marine Conservation Fellowship, established by the American Fisheries Society in 2007, honors a dedicated fisheries scientist. This $15,000 award supports graduate students engaged in thesis research on marine conservation topics. Applicants must be enrolled in a North American university's M.S. or Ph.D. program and be AFS members in good standing. The fellowship encourages innovative research addressing various conservation issues, not limited to fisheries.

Fisheries and related organizations in Puerto Rico can apply for US $200,000 - US $500,000 to implement electronic monitoring, reporting, and data system modernization in U.S. fisheries. Focused on advancing electronic technologies, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation supports projects that improve data quality, access, interoperability, and stakeholder participation in fisheries management and science.

Watershed and fisheries conservation organizations working on trout and salmon habitat restoration in Puerto Rico and across North America can apply for matching project grants. Grants from Trout and Salmon Foundation help fisheries groups with up to US $5,000 per project for physical stream restoration, habitat enhancement, and related on-the-ground improvements.

Organizations planning fish passage and aquatic connectivity projects in Puerto Rico can apply for funding via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Passage Program; awards range from US $500 - US $2,000,000. Eligible partners work on projects like dam removals, culvert replacements, and fishway installations that restore fisheries and support ecosystem resiliency.

Nonprofits and agencies improving reservoir fish habitat can apply for the Bass Pro Shops Large Grant from Friends of Reservoirs, offering up to US $100,000 for on-the-ground enhancement projects. With a mission to strengthen aquatic ecosystems, this program supports fisheries work in Puerto Rico that improves ecological function and recreational fishing.

U.S. Civil Society Microgrants

We seek to support projects that engage Pulitzer Center journalism to amplify the voices of affected communities, foster public debate, and drive meaningful audience engagement with our focus areas.

Audience engagement has been at the core of the Pulitzer Center’s work since its founding in 2006. In addition to grants and fellowships that facilitate breakthrough journalism, we support initiatives that connect the reporting to the audiences that need it the most. Our goal is pursuing real-world impact: engaging and mobilizing communities, increasing understanding and connection, and influencing decisions locally and globally. 

This microgrant aims to support civil society organizations and groups in the United States to utilize Pulitzer Center-supported reporting as part of projects that contribute to a more informed and empowered community.

 For this grant cycle, we are seeking grant proposals for civic engagement projects to be completed by early December 2026 that focus on one of the following issues:

• Climate and the environment, with a focus on U.S fisheries and fishing communities or climate and labor
• Information and Artificial Intelligence
• Global health, with specific focus on mental well-being or connections to the Global South

The objective is to use Pulitzer Center-supported journalism as the inspiration for the projects supported by this civil society microgrant. By leveraging this reporting, we expect to build projects that amplify the voices of affected communities, foster public debate, and drive meaningful audience engagement that will lead to impactful conversations in communities in the U.S. and beyond.

Grants range from US$2,000 to US$4,000. Project proposals can support existing activities or support the launch of new activities.