BBRSDA is now accepting project proposals for consideration in next year’s budget — and the priority deadline is October 1.

Each year, BBRSDA funds projects that advance the value of the Bristol Bay fishery, using revenue from the fleet-approved 1% assessment on salmon driftnet landings. We welcome proposals from permit holders, municipalities, nonprofits, private companies, research and academic institutions, and state or local agencies who are positioned to carry out the work they’re proposing.

To be eligible, a project should fall under one of the following purposes:

• Promoting Bristol Bay sockeye salmon  and sockeye byproducts
• Improving the commercial fishing industry and infrastructure in the region
• Research that advances understanding of the Bristol Bay fishery, from stock assessment and habitat science to quality, market, or product research that helps the fleet make better-informed decisions. (Note: Research proposals should include a clear research question, methodology, and a plan for how results will be shared with and useful to BBRSDA members.)
• Supporting education, research, or sales promotion programs for Bristol Bay sockeye salmon
• Preparing market research or product development plans
• Partnering with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute or similar organizations
• Collaborating with fishermen, processors, and agencies on new product forms, standards, and markets

Strong proposals tend to share a few things in common: clear writing, a verifiable budget, defined benefits reaching a broad number of BBRSDA members, cost-sharing or matching funds, and a solid plan for measuring results. Single-year projects are preferred over multi-year commitments, and BBRSDA generally reimburses costs against milestones or invoices rather than funding 100% up front.

Ready to apply? Download the Project Proposal Template and submit your proposal before October 1 for priority consideration in next year’s budget. Proposals submitted after that date will still be reviewed — just reach out to BBRSDA staff directly if you’re planning to submit later.

Questions about the process? Contact our staff — we’re happy to help.

BBRSDA is looking for content that tells the story of Bristol Bay’s amazing fishery by depicting sustainable and abundant harvests, quality fishing practices, and delicious preparation of fish. Submit your photos today!

With support from the Reinvestment Fund’s HFFI Food Access and Retail Expansion Fund, BBRSDA is launching a planning project to identify where cold chain, aggregation, and distribution investments can make the biggest difference in expanding access to Bristol Bay sockeye salmon for Tribal communities across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. BBRSDA will lead the project in partnership with SeaShare, a national nonprofit that distributed 1.7 million pounds of seafood last year, and regional Native organizations.

Bristol Bay produces the world’s largest sockeye salmon run, yet reliable access to that fish remains out of reach for many of the Native communities most tied to it — in part because existing distribution networks and cold chain infrastructure remain fragmented and underserved. This planning project will identify opportunities to close those gaps through community-driven planning.

The planning phase will involve community needs assessments, infrastructure mapping, feasibility analysis, and financial modeling — ultimately producing a roadmap that identifies 3 to 5 priority communities and the specific investments needed to reach them. The goal is an implementation-ready package that positions the project for implementation funding.

We’re hiring a technical assistance contractor.

To move this work forward, we’re issuing a Request for Proposals for a qualified contractor to lead the feasibility analysis, needs assessments, infrastructure mapping, and financial modeling that will form the backbone of the planning effort. If your organization has experience in food systems, supply chain infrastructure, or community development in Indigenous or rural contexts, we’d like to hear from you.

The deadline to submit is 6/23/26 at 11:59 PM PT.

See the links below for the formal Request for Proposals, Scope of Work, and Proposal Submission Form: