2020-21 Statewide Salmon
Updated
12:00 pm PST on 11/6/2025
PERMIT HOLDERS
Applications to qualifying permit holders in SEAK, Yukon/Kuskokwim, Chignik, and Norton Sound were mailed on 6/25/2024. Applications were required to be postmarked for return, faxed, or uploaded to PSMFC’s ShareFile site no later than 11:59pm PDT on 8/24/2024. Late applications were not accepted.
Relief checks for permit holders were mailed on 1/24/2025. If you applied but have not yet received your relief check, please write to AKFishDisasater@psmfc.org
PROCESSORS
Applications to qualifying Processors were mailed on 6/25/2024. Applications were required to be postmarked for return, faxed, or uploaded to PSMFC’s ShareFile site no later than 11:59pm PDT on 8/24/2024. Late applications were not accepted.
Chignik, Yukon/Kuskokwim, and Norton Sound processors were mailed relief checks on 10/28/2024.
SEAK Processors had relief checks mailed the week of January 17th, 2025.
If you applied but have not yet received your relief check, please write to AKFishDisasater@psmfc.org
CREW MEMBER
Applications for crew members were made available through this website on 06/28/2024. Completed applications were required to be postmarked, faxed, or uploaded to PSMFC’s ShareFile site no later than 11:59 p.m. PDT on 09/28/2024. Late submissions were not accepted.
- Relief checks for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) troll, seine, and gillnet crew members were mailed on 01/24/2025.
Crew member relief for Norton Sound, Yukon/Kuskokwim, and Chignik was temporarily paused pending federal approval of a spend plan amendment.
Due to low crew member participation in Norton Sound and the Yukon/Kuskokwim fisheries, payments were capped at $1,500. Remaining funds originally allocated for crew were reallocated to provide a second payment to eligible permit holders. Without this amendment, vessel crew members would have received more relief than permit holders, which was not the intent of the original spend plan.
Chignik crew members were originally allocated 20% of the 2020 Chignik salmon harvester relief funds. However, due to a calculation error, harvesters received 90%. To correct this and ensure crew members receive their intended share, funds were redirected from research. This amendment remains pending federal approval. Because of the current federal government shutdown resulting from a lapse in appropriations, PSMFC cannot release these payments until NOAA’s Alaska Region program officers return to work. The Commission cannot provide a payment timeline until Congress restores government operations.
Payment Status
- Norton Sound Crew: Relief checks issued 08/12/2025
- Yukon/Kuskokwim Crew: Relief checks expected by 11/28/2025
- Chignik Crew: Relief will be issued once (1) the federal government reopens and (2) the amended spend plan receives approval.
SUBSISTENCE HOUSEHOLDS
Applications for crew members were made available through this website on 06/28/2024. Completed applications were required to be postmarked, faxed, or uploaded to PSMFC’s ShareFile site by 11:59 p.m. PDT on 09/28/2024. Late submissions were not accepted.
Because of the high number of applications received, approximately 30% required amendments due to errors, omissions, or other issues. As a result, the review and processing period has taken longer than expected. Many amendment requests involved applicants with disconnected phone numbers, missing email addresses, or outdated contact information since their submission in September 2024. In addition, amendment responses often revealed secondary issues, such as duplicate applications from the same household, where “household” is defined as a single physical address.
To improve future programs, subsistence relief efforts related to the 2021 Norton Sound/Kuskokwim, 2022 Kuskokwim, and 2022 Yukon salmon disasters will use a revised approach to reduce the need for amendments. An electronic application system, similar to those currently used for West Coast disaster programs, will also be implemented to speed up the review and disbursement process.
The Commission’s intention is to issue 2020–21 Statewide Salmon Subsistence Household relief checks by 12/31/2025, or sooner if possible.
Please continue to visit this site periodically for updates.