Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species (15.608)
Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species (Assistance Listing 15.608) is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $272 million in 972 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $279,895 per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $95,023. Half of the 972 awards fell between $50,000 and $224,028, and they ranged from $3,299 to $10.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$272 million
- Grant awards972
- Typical award$95,023
- Awarded in FY 2025$26.1 million
- Size rank529 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $44.2 million in fiscal 2021 to $26.1 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 529th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 60% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 50 states and territories.
What the program funds
Established by the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act (NANPCA), the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) implements a program for waters of the United States to prevent introduction and dispersal of aquatic nuisance species (ANS), to monitor, control, and study such species, and to disseminate related information. The ANSTF provides financial support for two components of its program: Regional Panels of the ANSTF – The ANSTF provides funding to the host organizations to manage six Regional Panels. The panels help the ANSTF fulfill its responsibilities under NANPCA and collaborate with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to provide balanced advice to the Task Force on issues of regional significance. State/Interstate Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plans – Funding is provided to States to implement ANS Management Plans approved by the ANSTF, as authorized in NANPCA. The plans identify activities needed to eliminate or reduce the risks associated with ANS, focusing on feasible, cost-effective management efforts to prevent and control ANS infestations in an environmentally sound manner. Only States or Interstate organizations with ANSTF-approved ANS Plans are eligible for this annual funding.
Open opportunities
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Regional Panels of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force – Applications limited to the six organizations responsible for administering and managing ANSTF Regional Panels. State/Interstate Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plans – Eligible applicants are ONLY the States, or Territories, or Indian tribes involved together with States and/or Territories in an interstate organization, that have an ANS Management Plan that has been approved by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funding specifically for aquatic nuisance species (e.g. aquatic invasive species) work tied to the Regional panels and the State Plans. Funding cannot be used for land purchase and/or construction projects. 1 - For the Regional Panels of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) grants, see the program contact information below. 2 - For the State/Interstate Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plans grant program, see the program’s Notices of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. See the program's Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov for program contact and annual application deadlines and procedures. For Invasive Carp, see the program contact information below.;
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. For State/Interstate Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plan grants, Section 4724 (b)(3)(a) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 as amended (16 U.S.C. 4701-4741), requires those entities applying for funds under this Program to provide a 25% cost share (25% of total project costs). Applicants may attribute some or all of their allowable indirect costs as voluntary committed cost-share or match.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Deadlines vary by subprogram. For the State/Interstate Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plan grant program, see the program's Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov for program contact and annual application deadlines and procedures. For Regional Panels of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) grants, see the program contact information below.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force: ANSTF Regional Panels:Awards are approximately $50,000 for each of the six panels annually. State/Interstate ANS Management Plans: Funding is divided evenly among eligible approved plans; amounts and range are dependent on how many eligible plans successfully apply each year. Invasive Carp: Varies from year to year. Grants awarded ranging from between $41,000 and $1,575,000. Quagga and Zebra Mussel Containment and Prevention: Grants awarded between $37,500 and $600,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Regional Panels of the ANSTF – Funding was used to support the host organizations of the 6 Regional Panels of the ANSTF. The ANSTF Regional panels assist the ANSTF with coordinating regional activities, identifying regional priorities, providing advice pertinent to regional issues, and making recommendations and reporting to the Task Force. State/Interstate ANS Mgmt Plans – The program anticipates providing support for the 47 State and Interstate Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plans, including a wide range of activities such as: state coordinator positions, watercraft inspection and decontamination, early detection surveillance, education and outreach on aquatic invasive species, small control projects, coordination, and purchase of field equipment.Fiscal Year2026: Regional Panels of the ANSTF – Funding will be used to support the host organizations of the 6 Regional Panels of the ANSTF. The ANSTF Regional panels assist the ANSTF with coordinating regional activities, identifying regional priorities, providing advice pertinent to regional issues, and making recommendations and reporting to the Task Force.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species (15.608) awarded$272 million across 972 grant awards, an average of $279,895 per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 51% of the money, nonprofits 24% and colleges and universities 13%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 405 | $138 million | 51% |
| Nonprofits | 317 | $65.2 million | 24% |
| Colleges and universities | 92 | $35.3 million | 13% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 92 | $27.7 million | 10% |
| Small businesses | 25 | $2.4 million | 0.9% |
| Other | 28 | $1.8 million | 0.7% |
| Businesses | 13 | $1.4 million | 0.5% |
By state
42 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 37 | $35.6 million |
| Alabama | 18 | $23.9 million |
| Kentucky | 10 | $19.9 million |
| Alaska | 61 | $18.4 million |
| Virginia | 73 | $14.5 million |
| Idaho | 28 | $13.4 million |
| Arkansas | 11 | $13.0 million |
| Michigan | 69 | $12.6 million |
| Illinois | 16 | $11.7 million |
| Tennessee | 8 | $11.7 million |
| California | 95 | $11.1 million |
| Oregon | 52 | $9.2 million |
| Wisconsin | 42 | $6.9 million |
| Washington | 55 | $5.3 million |
| Indiana | 26 | $4.9 million |
| Minnesota | 35 | $4.6 million |
| Iowa | 10 | $3.5 million |
| West Virginia | 16 | $3.2 million |
| Montana | 24 | $3.1 million |
| Louisiana | 8 | $2.9 million |
| Missouri | 10 | $2.9 million |
| South Dakota | 13 | $2.9 million |
| Utah | 10 | $2.8 million |
| Massachusetts | 12 | $2.5 million |
| Arizona | 12 | $2.2 million |
| Kansas | 15 | $2.1 million |
| Mississippi | 13 | $2.1 million |
| Nebraska | 12 | $2.0 million |
| Texas | 12 | $1.8 million |
| District of Columbia | 7 | $1.8 million |
| Georgia | 5 | $1.8 million |
| Ohio | 14 | $1.7 million |
| Colorado | 14 | $1.6 million |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | $1.4 million |
| Maine | 13 | $1.2 million |
| Maryland | 12 | $1.2 million |
| South Carolina | 7 | $1.2 million |
| Oklahoma | 7 | $1.1 million |
| Wyoming | 6 | $1.1 million |
| Hawaii | 13 | $989,388 |
| New York | 17 | $987,176 |
| North Dakota | 2 | $670,871 |
| Connecticut | 9 | $635,453 |
| North Carolina | 3 | $515,347 |
| Vermont | 7 | $507,663 |
| New Hampshire | 4 | $450,000 |
| Rhode Island | 5 | $433,107 |
| New Mexico | 7 | $301,028 |
| Florida | 3 | $36,750 |