CDFW photo by T. Nguyen
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 California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is working on a revised spend plan for California funds that will be submitted to NOAA Fisheries for approval. Fishery participants eligible to receive funding include commercial fishing businesses, charter/for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, and processors and dealers participating in marine and anadromous fisheries.
If you possess a CDFW license/permit in a qualifying sector and plan to apply for relief funds, please make sure your contact information, including mailing address, email address, and phone number, are up to date by following these instructions. Contact information needs to be up to date by July 15th.
CDFW expects that applications for funding will be available by late summer. All potentially eligible CDFW license/permit holders will be notified by mail and email. It is expected that online applications will be available, and will be strongly encouraged for all applicants.
The additional funding will support activities previously authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The funding was allocated to states and territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. For more information on the fisheries relief, CDFW’s revised spend plan, and requirements to apply for funds, please see CDFW’s CARES Act Fisheries Relief for California web page and the Revised Spend Plan Overview.
post by Travis Buck, CDFW Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor
Marine Management News 