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

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity under the Alaska Coastal Marine Institute program (Assistance Listing 15.421). This grant initiative is executed in collaboration with the University of Washington’s Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES), which partners with NOAA to support marine and climate research. The grant focuses on conducting passive acoustic monitoring of cetaceans in the Lower Cook Inlet (LCI), Alaska, and forms part of an ongoing research partnership between BOEM and NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center Marine Mammal Laboratory (AFSC-MML). The study aims to collect, analyze, and synthesize acoustic and oceanographic data to better understand the temporal presence and activity of cetaceans such as humpback, right, fin, minke, killer, and beluga whales in the three main entrances to Lower Cook Inlet. Through the use of passive acoustic monitoring equipment integrated into sub-surface moorings, the project seeks to document both marine mammal occurrences and anthropogenic noise sources in the study area. The research intends to relate the presence of marine mammals to varying oceanographic conditions such as inflow events, thereby contributing to the understanding of ecological dynamics in the region. Spending is directed toward research implementation and involves extensive collaboration with NOAA scientists. Activities include preparing, deploying, and retrieving monitoring equipment, data analysis using echolocation detectors and passive acoustic recorders, and expert interpretation of marine mammal trends. The agreement emphasizes cooperative involvement, with BOEM scientists playing a substantial role in the study’s development and execution. The funding for this opportunity totals $409,000, with awards expected to fall between $400,000 and $409,000. Only one award is expected. No cost-sharing or matching funds are required. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, allowing for direct collaboration between the funding agency and the recipient. Although the exact number of anticipated awards is not listed, the structure of the opportunity implies a single award designated for the identified university partner. Eligibility for this funding is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and state governments. Specifically, the opportunity is open to members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) in the Pacific Northwest. It is not an open competition and requires that the applying organization have a qualified staff member as the principal investigator. The University of Washington is named as the eligible recipient in the announcement. The application window opened on July 22, 2025, and closes on September 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. All applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by the deadline. The opportunity is active and currently accepting applications. There is no indication that this grant is offered on a recurring or rolling basis. Applicants seeking assistance or more information may contact Najma Shaikh at najma.shaikh@bsee.gov.