Secretary of Commerce Announces Allocation of $300 Million in Fisheries Assistance Funding Under CARES Act

May 8, 2020 - The following was released today by NOAA Fisheries:

Yesterday, the Secretary of Commerce announced the allocation of $300 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by Sec. 12005 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also called the CARES Act, to states, Tribes, and territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who have been negatively affected by COVID–19.

As a next step, NOAA Fisheries will use these allocations to make awards to our partners, the interstate marine fisheries commissions, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to disburse funds to address direct or indirect fishery-related losses as well as subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial impacts related to COVID-19.

Fishery participants eligible for funding—including Tribes, commercial fishing businesses, charter/for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors, and other fishery-related businesses—should work with their state marine fisheries management agencies, territories, or Tribe to understand the process for applying for these funds. 

For more information please read our webstory

Questions?

Media: John Ewald, NOAA Office of Communications, 240-429-6127

General Inquiries: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103