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Ocean Funding Opportunities

Ocean Funding Opportunities

A running list of open grants, fellowships, awards and contests for ocean and coastal work, sorted by closing date. Every entry has been checked against the funder’s own page. Deadlines and amounts are as published by the funder; confirm both before you apply.

Last updated: 2 November 2026.

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Closing in November 2026

IMarEST Outstanding Contribution Award 2026

Deadline: 7 November 2026
Amount: Not applicable (award plaque, sponsored by P&S Automation)

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology recognises an individual, company or organisation that has made a significant contribution to improvements in the marine sector, with the award presented at the Institute’s Annual Dinner. Nominations must come from an IMarEST member, though nominees do not need to be members. A description of the contribution of up to 1,000 words is required, along with a signed letter of recommendation, and nominations go to awards@imarest.org. IMarEST staff and Trustees are not eligible.

Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2027

Deadline: 12 November 2026 late deadline (extended deadline 4 December; the regular deadline passed on 22 October)
Amount: Not applicable (screening royalties paid per screening rather than a one-off cash prize)

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour is accepting ocean documentary films under 60 minutes for its 2027 programme, across categories covering ocean exploration, sport and adventure, the ocean environment, coastal culture, and marine wildlife and science. Films produced before 2024 are not eligible, and films in languages other than English require English subtitles. Selected films are announced in January 2027, with the tour running through March 2027 and screenings planned in Australia, the UK, Spain, New Zealand, and Italy. Filmmakers are paid a screening royalty calculated on minutes screened across the tour. Entry fees range from USD 7 to 20 depending on the submission deadline.

Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future 5th Call for Proposals

Deadline: 13 November 2026 for concept papers (call opened 20 July 2026)
Amount: Community grants up to BZD 100,000; medium grants BZD 50,000 to 150,000; large grants BZD 150,000 to 500,000

The Belize Fund, the financing mechanism of Belize’s Blue Bonds, is inviting concept papers for its 2026 to 2027 funding cycle across three thematic areas: sustainable fisheries covering gear, traceability, catch data monitoring, and fisher capacity; climate resilience through nature-based solutions, restoration, and reduced nutrient and sediment loading; and blue business innovation including mariculture, reef-positive tourism, circular economy work, and value-added marine biodiversity products. Applicants with accepted concept papers are invited to develop full proposals, with technical working sessions provided for community grant applicants. Eligible entities must be registered with the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry and operational in Belize for at least one year, and community grant applicants must be located in a coastal community. Co-financing of 10 to 25 per cent is required depending on grant size.

Save Our Seas Foundation Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant 2026

Deadline: 15 November 2026 (18:00 CET)
Amount: USD 2,000 cash prize for each of two winners, plus a fully funded, mentored three-week photographic assignment (day rate and travel covered)

The Save Our Seas Foundation, based in Geneva, funds early-career and emerging photographers to tell conservation stories about the ocean. Two winners each receive a cash prize and a fully funded three-week assignment to document an SOSF-supported marine research or conservation project, mentored by the Foundation’s Director of Storytelling Thomas Peschak, Kathy Moran and Jennifer Samuel, with the resulting story published as a photo essay. The call is not limited to underwater photography: story topics can range from marine animals themselves to fisheries and the communities whose lives are intertwined with marine life. Applicants should have no more than five years of experience in any photography-related discipline, and the Foundation particularly encourages women and gender-diverse applicants and those from the Global South. Applications are made through a one-stage online form with a portfolio of 20 images and a photo story of 10 images; winners are announced in the last quarter of 2026, with assignments taking place in 2027.

EquiSea Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) Travel Award

Deadline: 15 November 2026 (applications reviewed on a rolling basis until then)
Amount: Not specified

The Ocean Foundation’s EquiSea initiative offers travel grants to attend conferences, symposiums and meetings relevant to marine carbon dioxide removal, with priority for applicants from outside Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. Travel should not be primarily for research, and presenting is not required. Applications should go in at least two months before the conference, and those seeking support for the Oceans in a High CO2 World meeting must use a separate cohort application. The grants are funded by the ClimateWorks Foundation.

UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge, 5th Call for Proposals

Deadline: 15 November 2026 (23:59 New York time)
Amount: Up to USD 100,000 per project, for up to 10 projects (USD 1 million in total)

The United Nations Development Programme, with support from Sweden’s Sida, is seeking implementation-ready innovations in marine pollution and plastics reduction, marine ecosystem restoration, and the sustainable blue economy that directly benefit Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The call is open worldwide to legally registered private sector organisations. Selected innovators receive funding through a deliverable-based contract, along with up to 17 months of incubation, technical mentoring, and project management and reporting support.

Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, Fourth Joint Transnational Call

Deadline: 16 November 2026 (15:00 CET) for pre-proposals; full proposals by invitation, due 14 June 2027
Amount: Approximately EUR 38 million in total, through participating national funders

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, a European partnership under Horizon Europe, funds transnational research and innovation projects in sustainable blue economy sectors, digital and ecosystem-based sea-use management, blue bioresources, and coastal resilience. Projects run for 36 months and should ideally address at least two European sea basins. The call has two stages, and only consortia invited after the pre-proposal evaluation submit a full proposal. Funding is channelled through participating national agencies, which may set their own requirements and internal deadlines, so applicants should check their national funder’s rules before submitting.

International Blue Carbon Institute Fellowship 2027

Deadline: 23 November 2026
Amount: USD 60,000 over two years

The International Blue Carbon Institute at Conservation International supports experts and professionals across disciplines working to protect, conserve and restore blue carbon ecosystems, selecting one Fellow for a two-year programme. The grant can fund new or existing work, including laboratory travel, equipment, publication fees and field assistants, and Fellows may also receive support to attend the annual International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group meetings. Applicants should be past the early-career stage, with an advanced master’s or PhD and five years of expertise. Applications are welcome from all regions, with researchers and practitioners in the Global South strongly encouraged and those from Africa particularly encouraged this cycle; all blue carbon ecosystems qualify, including mangroves, salt marshes, seagrasses and kelp forests. The Fellow will be announced in March 2027, and questions go to IBCI@conservation.org.

Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program, FY2026 (US Fish and Wildlife Service)

Deadline: 30 November 2026 (23:59 ET)
Amount: USD 2,350,000 estimated total programme funding

The US Fish and Wildlife Service provides financial assistance to eligible marine mammal stranding participants and stranding network collaborators. Funding covers the recovery, care and treatment of sick, injured or entangled marine mammals, emergency stranding response, the collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded animals for health research, directly related facility operating costs, and building stranding network capacity, including emergency response training where facilities are absent or sparse. Applicants must be authorised by the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and awards are made as cooperative agreements.

Women Divers Hall of Fame 2027 Scholarships and Training Grants

Deadline: 30 November 2026 (17:00 New York time; applications opened 1 October 2026)
Amount: Varies by scholarship or training grant

The Women Divers Hall of Fame awards scholarships and training grants each year, providing financial and educational support for research, conservation and diving-related training. The 2027 list includes graduate and undergraduate marine conservation scholarships, underwater archaeology, sea turtle conservation, climate change research, oceans and human health, ocean-minded content creation, hardhat and commercial diving, and basic and advanced dive training grants; some awards are for women only and others are open to all. Applicants may apply for only one scholarship or training grant, and every application requires two letters of recommendation from people able to comment on the applicant’s ability to complete the proposed project or training; neither applications nor letters are accepted after the deadline. Awards are announced in mid-February 2027 and made in March 2027, so the organisation asks applicants not to apply if the funds are needed before then.

Closing in December 2026

MSC Ocean Stewardship Fund: Transition Assistance Fund 2026 to 2027

Deadline: 1 December 2026 (23:59 UTC)
Amount: Up to GBP 50,000 for projects of up to two years

The Marine Stewardship Council’s Transition Assistance Fund supports fisheries that are verified as improving towards MSC certification through the MSC Improvement Program. Grants of up to GBP 50,000 cover projects running for up to two years. Applications are made through the MSC’s online grants portal, with the 2026 to 2027 application guidance available on the funding page. The MSC encourages applicants to contact their local MSC representative before applying.

John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant, FY2027 (NOAA Fisheries)

Deadline: 1 December 2026 (23:59 ET)
Amount: Award ceiling USD 150,000; a 25 per cent non-federal cost share applies

NOAA Fisheries’ Prescott programme, run through its Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, supports eligible members of the US National Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the National Entanglement Response Network, along with their collaborators. Funding covers marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation and stranding response, data collection, directly related facility costs, and network capacity building. Projects can run for a maximum of 12 months, and applications are submitted through Grants.gov under opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-PRPO-2026-31863. This is a separate programme from the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Prescott grants listed above.

Ocean Art 2026 Underwater Photo Competition

Deadline: 6 December 2026 (23:59 PST)
Amount: Prizes worth more than USD 50,000 in total, provided by sponsors

The Underwater Photography Guide’s 15th annual international underwater photography awards are open for entries across 15 categories: wide-angle, macro, marine life behaviour, portrait, underwater digital art, compact wide-angle, black and white, blackwater, underwater conservation, compact macro, underwater fashion, compact behaviour, cold water, nudibranch, and a smartphone category new for 2026. Entries are accepted only through the competition’s online portal, and entrants are asked to read the competition details page before submitting. Winning images from previous editions have been shared widely by international media outlets.

Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator: Round II

Deadline: 11 December 2026 (midnight GMT)
Amount: GBP 20,000 to 50,000 per project

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Blue Charter Incubator provides catalytic grants to Commonwealth governments, working in partnership with NGOs or the private sector, for government-led ocean projects in five priority areas: reducing marine pollution, ecosystem restoration, sustainable blue economy initiatives, sustainable fisheries, and the ocean and climate nexus. Round II is supported by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, with dedicated support for South Asia and Pacific Small Island Developing States, and CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, with dedicated support for the Commonwealth Caribbean. The round aims to support 10 to 15 projects, and the guidance and application form are on the Round II page.

NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest 2026

Deadline: 11 December 2026 (postmarked or submitted electronically)
Amount: Not applicable (winning artwork featured in the programme’s annual Marine Debris Calendar)

The NOAA Marine Debris Program’s annual art contest invites students from kindergarten through eighth grade to raise awareness of marine debris in the ocean and Great Lakes. It is open to students at public, private and home schools in all US states and territories; students may enter on their own or as part of a class, but each piece must be individual work. Entries are accepted by mail or electronically, with one completed entry form per student, available in English and Spanish.

The Next Swell Grants, Q4 2026 review

Deadline: 31 December 2026 (quarterly reviews close 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December)
Amount: Up to USD 1,200

The Next Swell is a US nonprofit that funds graduate students in marine conservation-oriented fields. Its grants cover research-related costs such as equipment and travel, and are not awarded for tuition, conferences or basic living expenses. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with awards made quarterly, and applicants hear back within two weeks of the end of each review period. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents pursuing a master’s or PhD, with a project that directly benefits marine conservation, and need a one-page proposal, a budget and a letter of recommendation from an advisor or principal investigator.

SCOR Travel Support for Early-Career Ocean Scientists, Q4 review

Deadline: 31 December 2026 (quarterly reviews close 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December)
Amount: Typically USD 3,000 to 10,000 per event

The Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research funds early-career ocean scientists from eligible low- and middle-income countries to attend ocean science meetings, conferences, workshops and trainings. Requests are accepted only from meeting organisers, who run their own selection of recipients and decide how to divide the award. Recipients must be students or within 10 years of their degree, presenting or taking part in a training, based in an eligible developing country other than the host country, and must not have received a SCOR travel grant in the past two years. Applications should be submitted at least six months before the event.

Closing in January 2027

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2027

Deadline: 4 January 2027 (midnight GMT; entries open 1 November 2026)
Amount: Prizes provided by sponsors; details on the competition’s 2027 sponsors and prizes page

Underwater Photographer of the Year, first awarded in 1965, is an international competition for underwater photography whose winning images are exhibited and widely published. Entries are submitted online between 1 November 2026 and 4 January 2027, with judging and RAW file checks from 6 to 15 January; shortlisted photographers must supply RAW and high-resolution files by 15 January. Results are sent to all entrants on 16 January, and winners are announced publicly on 26 February 2027 after a private awards ceremony in London. The competition publishes its rules, including its policy on the use of AI, on its website.

Garden Club of America Coastal Wetlands Studies Scholarship

Deadline: 10 January 2027 (applications open 10 November 2026)
Amount: USD 5,000 per award

The Garden Club of America funds graduate students carrying out field-based research in US coastal wetlands, defined as tidal or non-tidal wetlands within the coastal states, including the Great Lakes states. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate programme at a US university and be US citizens or permanent residents, and may apply to only one GCA-sponsored scholarship per year. Applications are reviewed by a committee of practising wetland scientists at the Center for Coastal Resources Management at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, which nominates candidates to the Garden Club of America for final selection. Selection weighs technical merit and relevance to wetlands conservation, with a preference for students early in their degree programmes.

PADI Foundation Grant Program, 2027 cycle

Deadline: 15 January 2027 (applications open 1 November 2026)
Amount: Up to USD 15,000; most awards USD 5,000 to 10,000

The PADI Foundation funds research and education projects that expand knowledge of aquatic environments, improve understanding of diving physiology and diver safety, and address challenges facing ocean and coastal ecosystems. For 2027 the Foundation has raised its ceiling to USD 15,000, with particular consideration for diving-physiology and diver-safety research. There are no nationality restrictions, and proposals may address both scuba and freediving. The Foundation generally does not fund overhead or indirect costs, salaries, dive training or standard diving equipment, and applications are submitted through its Common Grant Application platform.

Algalita Wayfinder Society Student Mini-Grants, 2026 to 2027

Deadline: 15 January 2027 (17:00 PT; applications opened 15 October 2026)
Amount: USD 500 per grant; 10 grants

Algalita, a plastic pollution nonprofit based in Long Beach, California, funds students aged 11 to 25 anywhere in the world who are tackling the root causes of plastic pollution in their schools or communities, through projects such as campus reuse systems, repair cafés, cleanups tied to data collection, policy advocacy, education campaigns and creative arts work. Applicants need a Wayfinder Society account, must complete two required online Actions before the deadline, and must name a non-family adult advisor; applications are reviewed in English only. Winners are announced in late February 2027 and receive support from Algalita staff through the school year.

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Art Contest 2027

Deadline: 31 January 2027
Amount: Not applicable (winning artwork featured in a NOAA Fisheries calendar)

NOAA Fisheries’ annual art contest is open to students from kindergarten through eighth grade in all US states and territories, attending public, private or home schools. Students may enter on their own or through a classroom, but each piece must be made individually. The 2027 theme is the sustainable fishing of Atlantic sharks, tunas, swordfish and billfish, with artwork highlighting their role in fisheries, fishing methods and gear, or their relevance to fishing communities. A NOAA panel selects 13 winners, whose work appears in the 2028 Atlantic highly migratory species calendar.

NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, 2027 cohort

Deadline: 31 January 2027 (23:59 ET; applications opened 1 September 2026)
Amount: Up to USD 40,000, comprising USD 9,500 per year for two years of full-time study, a 10-week paid NOAA summer internship, and funding to present internship research at two national scientific conferences

The Hollings Scholarship supports undergraduates studying NOAA mission fields, including engineering, meteorology, biological sciences, social sciences, physical science and other related disciplines, at accredited colleges and universities in the US or US territories. Applicants must be US citizens with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, typically second-year students in a four-year programme, third-year students in a five-year programme, or community college students planning to transfer to a four-year institution; for the 2027 cycle, eligible students must have an anticipated bachelor’s graduation date between December 2028 and August 2029. Scholars receive an academic award of USD 9,500 per year for two years and complete a 10-week, full-time, paid summer internship at any NOAA facility nationwide between the first and second years of the award. All application materials, including reference forms and transcripts, must be received by the deadline; late or incomplete applications are not reviewed.

Closing in February 2027

MSC Ocean Stewardship Fund: Student Research Grants 2026 to 2027

Deadline: 28 February 2027 (23:59 UTC)
Amount: Up to GBP 10,000 for projects of up to 12 months

The Marine Stewardship Council funds postgraduate students who carry out research with fisheries that are engaged with, or working towards, the MSC Fisheries Standard. Grants of up to GBP 10,000 cover projects running for up to 12 months. Applications are made through the MSC’s online grants portal, with the 2026 to 2027 application guidance available on the funding page. Applicants are encouraged to contact their local MSC representative for guidance.

Closing in March 2027

The Waterloo Foundation Environment Fund: Marine Programme

Deadline: 1 March 2027 (the Marine programme has two fixed deadlines each year, 1 March and 1 September)
Amount: Most grants total GBP 100,000 to 150,000, spread over multiple years

The Waterloo Foundation, an independent grant-making foundation based in Cardiff, runs a Marine programme within its Environment Fund, making one-off and multi-year grants, usually for up to five years. It prioritises UK-based charities, many of which work in close partnership with smaller local NGOs in the countries where they operate; organisations based outside the UK must name a UK-based referee, such as a UK office of an international NGO, a past Waterloo grantee, or a UK-based donor, and applications without one are not considered. There is no application form: proposals of roughly two to three sides of A4 are emailed to applications@waterloofoundation.org.uk, stating that the application is for the Marine programme. Only one application per organisation is considered at a time, the Foundation looks favourably on proposals with match funding already secured, and decisions usually take around six months from submission.

Science Without Borders Challenge 2027

Deadline: 1 March 2027 (23:59 ET)
Amount: Scholarships of up to USD 500

The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s 15th annual international student art contest takes the 2027 theme “Navigate with Care,” asking students to create artwork showing how safe and responsible navigation can protect marine life, conserve fragile ocean ecosystems, and promote safety at sea. The contest is open to students worldwide aged 11 to 19 who are enrolled in primary or secondary school or the home-school equivalent; college and university students are not eligible. Work is judged in two age categories. New for 2027, entrants must submit two progress photos documenting the creation of their artwork.

The Next Swell Scholarship 2027

Deadline: 15 March 2027 (window opens 15 January 2027)
Amount: Not specified

The Next Swell awards merit-based scholarships to graduate students in marine biology and marine conservation who show a commitment to the field. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents pursuing a master’s or PhD with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5, and funds must go towards tuition or research costs for the degree.

Closing in August 2027

IMarEST David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant

Deadline: 31 August 2027 (initial proposal)
Amount: GBP 2,500

Awarded every two years by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, this grant funds one original journey that inspires public interest in the oceans and seas and explores how the human activity affecting them can be conducted safely and sustainably. The winner tells the story of the journey through a blog, vlog or written journal, on social media, and in a final report. Applicants send a 500-word initial proposal; up to ten are shortlisted to prepare a detailed proposal in October 2027, with interviews in November, the winner announced in January 2028, and the journey to be completed by 31 December 2028.

SEVENSEAS Media · Conservation Journalism for the Ocean
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