Core Program - North Pacific Research Board
Core Program - North Pacific Research Board supports researchers studying Alaska’s marine ecosystems to address pressing fisheries management needs, improve ecosystem understanding, and sustain marine resources.
Funder: North Pacific Research Board
Due Dates: Rolling (Core proposals) | October 1, 2026 (2027 RFP release) | September 30, 2026 (Revised 2025 RFP expiration)
Funding Amounts: Revised 2025 Flex Grants: up to $150,000 for 12 months; historical annual program funding: $3.5 million–$14 million
Summary: Supports Alaska marine research addressing pressing fisheries management questions and marine ecosystem information needs.
Key Information: Check the applicable RFP before choosing a proposal type: the 2027 timeline permits all types, but a flex-only notice remains.
Description
The North Pacific Research Board’s Core Program funds competitive, peer-reviewed marine research relevant to Alaska’s Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Arctic Ocean ecosystems. Established in 2002, it is NPRB’s longest-running and largest-funded research program. Priorities are guided by the Science Plan and emphasize timely research with direct application to fisheries management, sustainable marine-resource use, and improved ecosystem understanding.
Research areas include oceanography and productivity, fishes and invertebrates, marine birds and mammals, human dimensions, and interdisciplinary studies. NPRB expects project-appropriate communication and engagement with communities and stakeholders, regardless of study type. Community involvement, industry cooperation, technology development, data rescue, and integration of Indigenous, local, and scientific knowledge are encouraged approaches. Special-focus topics, when included in an annual RFP, address particularly pressing management or ecosystem needs.
