CARES Act Funding Opportunity for California Residents Opens 10/4
/WHO: Alaska Fishermen who are residents of California
(for residents of AK, OR and WA, the second round of the program has not opened yet, keep an eye on PSMFC.org. Residents of states who did not receive funding through this program, you can apply to AK when it opens)
WHAT: A program offering support to fishermen who were negatively affected by COVID-19 in 2020.
On March 29, 2021, the Secretary of Commerce announced the allocation of an additional $255 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Funding a second round of the same program. California was allocated $15,315,740 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
Read the linked Spend Plan to determine your eligibility to apply. Perhaps the most notable requirement is have incurred at least a 35% loss in fishing income in 2020* as compared to the applicable prior five-year average revenue (2015- 2019). NOTE 2020, not 2021.
WHEN: The program opened for applications 10.04.21 and they must be submitted by 12:59 PM on 10.17.21
WHERE: Find the Spend Plan and the Application at https://relief.psmfc.org/california-cares-act-information/
BACKGROUND: In May of 2020, the Secretary of Commerce announced the allocation of $300 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by the CARES Act to states, Tribes, and territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who had been negatively affected by COVID-19.
Because each state managed separate application processes, there were discrepancies between eligibility requirements - most notably, California and Oregon residents who have fishing permits in Alaska were not eligible to apply for support from the state of California/Oregon because these programs required a CA/OR fishing permit. CA and OR residents were also not eligible to apply in Alaska because the AK program required AK residency or residency in a state that received no funding from this program.
BBRSDA worked with each state's departments of Fish and Wildlife (who were responsible for administering the program) and with NOAA which funded the program to draw attention to this issue and advocate for CA & OR fishermen to be able to apply for assistance.
On March 29, 2021, the Secretary of Commerce announced the allocation of an additional $255 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Funding a second round of the same program.
This time, both CA and OR revised their requirement so that residents who have an AK CFEC fishing permit and are residents of CA or OR are eligible to apply. They must meet the other eligibility requirements of the program in order to receive funding, most notably have incurred a 35% loss in fishing income in 2020* as compared to the applicable prior five-year average revenue (2015- 2019).
UPDATE for other states:
ALASKA - Link
The first round of applications is closed, and payments have not been disbursed yet. The second round has not opened yet. Alaska residents and Alaska permit holders who are residents of a state without their own allocation and program, should apply to AK.
WASHINGTON - Link
WA residents who fish in Alaska are eligible to apply to WA. Relief checks for Washington’s Round 1 CARES Act Fisheries Assistance were mailed on Monday, August 9th, 2021. The second round has not yet opened for applications but the Draft Spend Plan is available.
OREGON - Link to PSMFC & ODFW
OR-resident Alaska fishermen will be eligible to apply to round two of the program, which has not opened yet. The draft spend plan is available at the links above.
