Maine fishing industry to receive $20.1M in federal aid
Photo / Laurie Schreiber
Maine fishermen could see some financial relief from the state’s $20.1 million share of federal funds designated for fishermen and seafood industries affected by the pandemic.
Maine’s fishing industry will receive $20.1 million out of $300 million in federal economic relief designated for U.S. fishermen and seafood industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fishery participants eligible for funding include commercial fishing businesses, charter and for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors and other fishery-related businesses, according to a news release. Tribes are also eligible for funding including for any negative impacts to subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial fisheries.
The shutdown of restaurants and other outlets serving fresh seafood has decimated the the supply chain of fishermen and seafood processors.
In 2019, Maine’s fishing industry generated a value for harvesters and aquaculture operators of more than $673 million, which translates to approximately $2 billion in overall value when accounting for the value added by dealers and processors.
Maine lobster harvesters, who in 2019 generated more than $485 million in landed value, face severely reduced prices due to market loss. Shellfish farmers and softshell clam harvesters anticipate revenue losses of least 50%.
The U.S. fisheries support 1.7 million jobs and generate $200 billion in annual sales.
As a result of the pandemic, it’s been reported that many of the nation’s fisheries have suffered sales declines as high as 95%.
Relief money for the fishing industry approved this week will not apply to vessel repair businesses, restaurants, or seafood retailers, which are not considered “fishery-related businesses.”
The funds were allocated Thursday as part of the CARES Act, which was signed into law March 27.
The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will work with the nation’s three interstate marine fishery commissions to deliver financial assistance.
Maine is part of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The Maine Department of Marine Resources will be leading the effort in coordination with the commission.
The commissions will work with states, tribes and territories to develop spending plans, which must describe the main categories for funding, including direct payments, fishery-related infrastructure and fishery-related education that address direct and indirect COVID-19 impacts.
Once a plan has been approved by NOAA, the agency anticipates that the three commissions will review applications and process payments to eligible fishery participants. The states will have the option to process payments themselves.
Maine’s funding represents the fifth-highest amount being awarded among 31 recipients of the overall $300 million.
The allocations were based on a multi-year average of the total annual revenue of each region’s commercial fishing, charter fishing, processor and aquaculture sectors. The method allowed NOAA to utilize data that were readily available while accounting for regional variability in the size of commercial, charter, processor and aquaculture industries.
The funds may be awarded on a rolling basis, and within a fishing season, to ensure rapid delivery of funds during the pandemic.
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