More CARES Act funding available for fishery participants

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) has confirmed the allocation of an additional $2.95 million to eligible American Samoa fishery participants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

In a statement issued yesterday DMWR is calling for applications on this available funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through theConsolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 or CARES Act.

 “Applications for “Round 2” of CARES Act assistance is now available through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) or at the Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources (DMWR) office.

“Given the COVID-19 situation, please call before visiting the office and wear a mask at all times during your visitation.”

The deadline for applications is set for August 02, 2022. 

The statement says that interested applicants should carefully review category requirements identified in the American Samoa’s Round 2 Spend Plan to determine their eligibility. 

 “At a minimum, applicants must be able to claim economic revenue losses greater than 35 percent as compared to the previous five years average revenue and any negative impacts to subsistence fishing activities because of COVID-19.”

Also the claims need to be within the period of January 01 – December 31, 2021.

Furthermore the statement says that entities that have been in business less than five years are still eligible for assistance.

 “Fishery participants eligible for funding include licensed Commercial Fishing Businesses which include Seafood Processors, Charter Fishing, Fishing Vessels, Fish Dealers, Marine Gear & Vessel Suppliers, Marine and Bait Tackle Operations, and subsistence fishers who operate and reside in American Samoa and meet the definitions and criteria within the spend plan.”

The first phase of funding was released in 2020, in the amount of $2.55 million for American Samoa’s fishermen.

Congress provided this funding in Sec. 12005 of the CARES Act, to States, Tribes, and Territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who have been negatively affected by COVID–19.

NOAA announced the agency will use these allocations to make awards to address direct or indirect fishery-related losses as well as subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial impacts related to COVID-19.

Fishery participants eligible for funding — including Tribes, commercial fishing businesses, charter/for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors, and other fishery-related businesses — should work with their state marine fisheries management agencies, Territories, or Tribe to understand the process for applying for these funds.