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Updated 9/27/2021

 

On May 7, 2020 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.

On March 29, 2021, NOAA Fisheries announced the allocation of an additional $255 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The funding will support activities previously authorized under Sec. 12005 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). It will be allocated to states, tribes, and territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who have been negatively affected by COVID-19.

The funding appropriated in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act has been divided differently between states, tribes, and territories than in the first round. In this round, Congress has designated $30 million for federally recognized tribes in coastal or Great Lakes states, and $15 million for Great Lakes states that were not previously funded.

Businesses farther down the supply chain—including vessel repair businesses, restaurants, or seafood retailers—are not considered “fishery-related businesses” for the purposes of this funding. States and territories have the discretion to determine whether marine bait and tackle operations and marine gear and vessel suppliers are eligible for assistance in their spend plans, consistent with the requirements of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act and the CARES Act.

NOAA Fisheries has alerted the three Interstate Fisheries Commissions that they will again be administering this second round of relief while also acting as the fiscal agent responsible for disbursing relief payments to eligible participants.

PSMFC will be working with the various states, tribes, and territories to provide guidance on amending “spend plans” consistent with the CARES Act and NOAA’s guidance; spend plans are solely authored by the respective states, tribes, and territories. Spend plans must describe the main category for funding, including direct payments, fishery-related infrastructure, fishery-related education that address direct and indirect COVID-19 impacts to commercial fishers, charter businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, subsistence/cultural/ceremonial users, processors, and dealers.

Upon receipt and approval of individual spend plans, the Commission staff will work with the various states, tribes, and territories to communicate and disseminate; information, applications, and other correspondences to fishery participants for requesting funds. We will work with the entities on the best avenues for distributing correspondences using various associations and agency contacts. Specific deadlines will be established in which all applications must be received; it will be noted that late applications will not be accepted.

For information on the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission CARES Act efforts: GSMFC and ASMFC

For additional NOAA Fisheries CARES Act / Coronavirus information:

• Additional Assistance Funding Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
• Secretary of Commerce Announces Allocation of an Additional $255 Million in CARES Act Funding to States and Territories
• Commerce Secretary Announces Allocation of $300 Million in CARES Act Funding
• NOAA Fisheries Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

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For other useful CARES Act information, please see our FAQ and Contact pages.
For further CARES Act information about a specific state or territory please see its associated page:

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• California
• Commonweath of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
• Guam
• Hawaii
• Oregon
• Washington