Federal grant programs / Department of the Interior

Marine Turtle Conservation Fund (15.645)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$16.2 million
• Grant awards98
• Typical award$105,534
• Awarded in FY 2025$1.1 million
• Size rank1,377 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $1.4 million in fiscal 2021 to $1.1 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 1377th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 68% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 15 states and territories.

What the program funds

This program funds Marine Turtle and Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle (TFT) projects. Objectives of the Marine Turtle projects are to assist in the conservation of marine turtles and the nesting habitats of marine turtles in foreign countries by supporting and providing financial resources in the following areas: academic and technical training in the conservation and management of marine turtles; applied research on marine turtle populations and their habitats, including surveys and monitoring; conservation education and community outreach for the protection of nesting and near shore foraging populations; development and execution of marine turtle conservation management plans; habitat conservation and management; information exchange to promote international collaboration; projects to protect nesting females and eggs on important nesting beaches; promotion of networks, partnerships, and coalitions that assist in the implementation of conventions, treaties, protocols and other international activities for the conservation and management of marine turtles; protected area/reserve management of important nesting beaches; strengthening local capacity to implement conservation programs on nesting beaches; and strengthening law enforcement capacity and forensics skills through training and equipment. Tortoise and Freshwater Turtles (TFT) represent one of the most imperiled animal groups on earth. Of the world's 342 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles, more than half face the threat of extinction. Habitat loss and the legal and illegal trade of turtles and turtle products (for food, pets, and traditional medicines, etc.) continue to drive sharp declines in turtle populations globally. The USFWS TFT Conservation Fund aims to support conservation efforts that conserve populations and habitats of freshwater turtles and tortoises most at risk by addressing their threats.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Funds provided under this program support projects that will help to restore, recover, and sustain a viable population of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises in the wild by assisting efforts in a foreign country or territory of the United States to implement a marine turtle, freshwater turtle, or tortoise conservation program.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Funds may not be used for the following activities: Physical resettlement of people (voluntary or involuntary); the purchase of firearms or ammunition; gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity; buying or purchasing intelligence; evidence or information or paying informants; law enforcement operations that, to arrest suspects, prompt them to carry out illegal activities; and any activity that would circumvent sanctions, laws, or regulations of wither the U.S. or the country of the proposed activity. The following cost elements are not allowable under this program: publications of materials for distribution within the U.S. that are not related to the program; pre-award costs (unless prior written approval is received); programs designed to advocate policy views or positions of foreign governments or views of a particular political faction; entertainment and/or alcoholic beverages; purchase of land; direct support or the appearance of direct support for individual or single-party electoral campaigns; and duplication of services immediately available through municipal, provincial, or national government.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Variable amounts. Generally $50,000 or less. Higher amounts may be requested.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Enhance the protection of sea turtles, tortoises, and freshwater turtles by reducing the critical threat of turtle trade and trafficking by strengthening the law and policy at the central and local level. Activities include (1) Engaging and enhancing the capacity of key stakeholders within the legal system to exercise appropriate and impactful application of relevant laws and policies; (2) Mobilizing public support and participation in combatting illegal trade; and (3) Promoting and engaging volunteers nationwide to help protect turtles through activities such as awareness events. Project that supports conservation efforts of the sea turtle nesting population by addressing nesting beach threats such as beach driving, light pollution and debris including abandoned fishing nets by (1) working with local hotels, tourist guides and the regional government to support light modifications; (2) conducting outreach and education campaigns with the community and public; and (3) conducting beach cleanup and fishing net cleanups. Project that develops a sea turtle conservation program to address fisheries bycatch by (1) conducting bycatch assessment surveys; (2) determining main fishing areas and “bycatch hotspots;” (3) co-developing with fishers on solutions to address sea turtle bycatch; and (4) implementing measures to reduce sea turtle bycatch.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Nonprofits received 71% of the money, individuals 0.8% and colleges and universities 0.5%.

By state

3 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Massachusetts, New York and Texas.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.