April 11, 2013 — On November 16 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared a fishery disaster for the states of New Jersey and New York because of Sandy. That allowed Congress to ask for $150 million dollars in aid — but that promise was shot down as the money got tossed into budget battles in the House of Representatives.
Tom Hansen’s cash register at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park rung up zero dollars in November last year. His December sales were no different.
For a shop located smack-dab in the middle of prime fall striped bass real estate, it should have been hopping with surf fishermen buying clams and tackle on their way to the beach.
Instead Seaside Park was closed for 81 days and 14 hours after superstorm Sandy barreled through on Oct. 29 and turned the state on its back like a turtle.
“The fall season plus the Christmas season gets me into the black if I’m going to make it for the year,” Hansen said. “I lost both. And my business interruption insurance covered nothing.”
That’s money he can’t get back. And five months later sales aren’t much better. Hansen is open, but limping along as the Seaside beaches are still closed.
His story is echoed by many up and down the coast who make their living in the recreational fishing industry. With few exceptions, if Sandy didn’t damage or destroy a business outright, it caused long-term business interruptions and revenue loss.
“We got hammered,” said Jim Hutchinson Jr., managing director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance. “Everyone was devastated. We lost tons of bait, infrastructure.”
Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press