AK-25-03b, Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Cetaceans in Lower Cook Inlet

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a division of the United States Department of the Interior, has released a funding opportunity under the Alaska Coastal Marine Institute's Assistance Listing 15.421. The funding opportunity, titled “AK-25-03b, Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Cetaceans in Lower Cook Inlet,” supports collaborative environmental research in Alaska through a cooperative agreement with the University of Washington’s Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES). CICOES promotes scientific collaboration between the University of Washington and NOAA, particularly on projects that advance understanding of climate, ocean, and ecosystem dynamics. This opportunity specifically supports a research initiative aimed at collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing data regarding the acoustic environment and marine mammal presence in Lower Cook Inlet (LCI), Alaska. In partnership with NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center Marine Mammal Laboratory (AFSC-MML), this study will use passive acoustic monitoring methods to detect and characterize the temporal occurrence of various cetacean species including humpback, right, fin, minke, killer, and beluga whales. It also seeks to relate cetacean activity to changing oceanographic conditions and to document the spatial and temporal occurrence of anthropogenic noise within the study area. The funding will support deployment and recovery of integrated sub-surface moorings at three strategic entrances to LCI. Data collection tools will include standard passive acoustic recorders and echolocation detectors. The agreement also requires the recipient to contribute expert interpretation of results, particularly in relation to marine mammal presence and ocean inflow events. The cooperative agreement implies substantial involvement from BOEM scientists in the design and execution of the research activities, ensuring close coordination with federal objectives and protocols. Eligibility for this award is limited to institutions within the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). Specifically, the University of Washington is identified as the intended recipient, and all applicants must propose a staff member as the Principal Investigator (PI). While the notice is not an open call for proposals, eligible parties must still submit an acceptable proposal to be considered for the award. Collaboration among state agencies, universities, and nonprofits within affected states is encouraged, particularly for interdisciplinary studies. The award ceiling is set at $409,000, with a minimum award of $400,000, and the total available funding is also listed at $409,000, suggesting that a single award is anticipated. Matching contributions are not required for this opportunity. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on August 22, 2025. The notice was originally posted on July 22, 2025, and last updated on July 29, 2025. While there is no mention of a recurring cycle, applicants should refer to the listed contact for any questions or clarifications. For further information or assistance accessing the full announcement, applicants can contact Najma Shaikh at najma.shaikh@bsee.gov. Applicants are reminded that this is not an open solicitation but rather a directed announcement to support specific cooperative research activities.