NOAA Fisheries is allocating $15.8 million in funding to Florida, California and the Makah Tribe in Washington State for fishery disasters between 2019 and 2024.

Appropriated by Congress in the American Relief Act, 2025, allocation applies to previously declared fishery resource disasters, including:

·       Florida, Hurricane Ian 2022

·       The Makah Tribe ocean treaty troll fishery during 2020 and 2021

·       The Makah Tribe Fraser sockeye salmon fisheries during 2023, 2021, 2020 and 2019

·       The California red sea urchin fishery in 2023-2024

The federal agency used reported commercial revenue loss information to allocate funding across the eligible disasters. 

“Coastal communities depend on these fisheries and fishermen to support their local economies,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “These fishery disaster funding allocations are a tangible way to assist these communities in mitigating impacts and restoring fisheries.” 

“These funds will help improve the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the impacted fisheries,” according to an agency statement. “Funds can be used to assist commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, for-hire businesses, shore-side infrastructure, subsistence users, and the marine environment.  Activities that can be considered for funding include direct assistance, fishery-related infrastructure projects, habitat restoration, state-run vessel and fishing permit buybacks, job retraining and more.” 

“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.” 

NOAA Fisheries will issue a non-competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity letter to fishery disaster recipients, who will have 120 days to submit an application. 

For more information see the detailed allocations to states and learn more about fishery disaster assistance.