NFWF Announces More Than $57 Million in New Awards for Restoration Projects in the Gulf
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announces grants from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 16, 2025) -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the award of more than $57 million in obligations from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) for five new projects and three amendments in the states of Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.
This latest announcement of GEBF investments brings the total number of awards in the five Gulf states to 209, with a total current value of nearly $1.7 billion. Developed in consultation with state and federal resource agencies, the projects are designed to remedy harm and reduce the risk of future harm to natural resources that were affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“Today’s announcement represents the continuation of significant GEBF investments to benefit resources affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “These efforts not only restore and conserve vital habitats but also strengthen local economies and support livelihoods that depend on healthy ecosystems. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation looks forward to continuing close collaboration with our state and federal resource agency partners and implementing partners to identify additional projects to benefit the natural resources of the Gulf.”
In Alabama, $13 million will fund the restoration of beach and dune habitat on Little Dauphin Island and complete the restoration of the Salt Aire shoreline.
In Florida, more than $11.6 million will fund the expansion of successful lighting retrofits to high-density sea turtle nesting habitat on the Atlantic coast and provide additional resources to successfully complete restorations of White Island in Pensacola Bay and dune habitats along the Florida Panhandle.
In Mississippi, more than $33 million in new awards will fund habitat restoration in Biloxi and West Hancock County and improve nearshore and offshore artificial reef habitat in Mississippi Sound. Additional information on the new awards and all projects in the Gulf Coast can be found here.
Projects are developed for GEBF consideration following extensive consultation with state natural resource agency leads and with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,300 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of $11.3 billion. Learn more at nfwf.org.
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Contact:
Matt Winter, 202-857-0166, matt.winter@nfwf.org