Commerce Department Allocates $15.8 Million in Fishery Disaster Funding, Covering California's Red Sea Urchin Fishery
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on October 23 that the U.S. Department of Commerce will allocate $15.8 million in fishery resource disaster funding, appropriated by Congress in the American Relief Act, 2025. The funding will address multiple previously declared fishery resource disasters that occurred in Florida, California, and for the Makah Tribe in Washington state between 2019 and 2024.
The disasters covered by the allocation include Florida's losses from Hurricane Ian in 2022; the Makah Tribe's ocean treaty troll fishery in 2020 and 2021; the Makah Tribe's Fraser River sockeye salmon fisheries in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023; and California's red sea urchin fishery in the 2023/2024 season. NOAA Fisheries used commercial revenue loss information to allocate the funding across the eligible disasters.
"The U.S. seafood industry plays a critical role in our coastal economy," said NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs. "Our fishermen depend on each catch to sustain their livelihoods, yet fishery disasters can have devastating impacts on the businesses and communities that rely on these resources. NOAA is committed to supporting and uplifting our coastal businesses and communities through such challenges so they can continue to thrive." Eugenio Pineiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, said the allocations are a tangible way to assist the affected communities in mitigating impacts and restoring fisheries.
NOAA said the funds are intended to improve the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the impacted fisheries. Eligible uses include direct assistance to commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen and for-hire businesses, shore-side infrastructure projects, habitat restoration, state-run vessel and fishing permit buybacks, and job retraining. Eligible businesses and tribal entities may also be able to access other federal relief programs, such as the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
In the next steps, NOAA Fisheries will issue a non-competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity letter to the fishery disaster recipients, who will have 120 days to submit an application to NOAA Fisheries. NOAA said fishing communities and individuals affected by the disasters should work with their state or tribal government, as appropriate.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 加州红海胆（资料图），其2023/2024渔业季被列入本次联邦灾害救助。照片：Taollan82 摄，CC BY 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / A California red sea urchin (file photo); its 2023/2024 fishery is among the disasters covered by this federal allocation. Photo: Taollan82, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
