Feds allocate $34.7 million for P-cod, salmon fishery losses

A $65 million package of fishery disaster relief funds announced by Commerce Secretary Wilber Ross includes $34.7 million for stakeholders in Alaska fisheries who suffered economic losses in 2018 Gulf harvest failures of Alaska Pacific cod and Chignik sockeye salmon.

That $37.7 million includes $24.4 million for various Alaska fisheries related entities impacted by the Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod and $10.3 million Chignik sockeye salmon failures.

The allocation is to be administrated by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in Portland, Ore., which is tasked with distributing those payments to fishermen and their deckhands, processors and for fishery research in impacted regions.

NOAA Fisheries used commercial revenues loss information gathered in the wake of both Alaska disasters to allocate funds. They also took into consideration traditional uses that cannot be accounted for in commercial revenue loss alone, federal officials said.

Some businesses impacted by these disasters may also be eligible for assistance from the Small Business Administration or other federal agencies.

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