Today, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eileen Sobeck announced plans to distribute the $75 million in disaster relief aid appropriated to US fisheries, with nearly $33m of those funds going to fisheries in the Northeast.
WASHINGTON — February 26, 2014 — The aid comes in response to a 2012 disaster declaration by the Secretary of Commerce for fisheries in the Northeast, Alaska, and Mississippi.
LISTEN –> to the announcement by Assistant Administrator Sobeck
In addition to allocating the federal disaster funds, the agency also waived a previously stipulated eligibility requirement that states match 25 percent of the federal money given to them in order to qualify. The Massachusetts Congressional delegation previously lobbied NOAA and the Department of Commerce to waive the requirement.
NOAA plans to finalize with the eligible states the details of how the money will be spent. Current law gives the states a large amount of discretion over how to best spend funds in ways that will "restore the fishery or prevent a similar failure in the future, and to assist a fishing community affected by such failure."
Massachusetts Congressional Delegation and State Elected Officials' Reaction
Members of the Massachusetts delegation praised the announcement, and continued to stress the urgent need for these funds. "It is critically important that disaster relief aid finally reach Massachusetts' neediest fishermen, and I applaud Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and NOAA acting Administrator Kathryn Sullivan for recognizing the dire situation our fishermen are facing and heeding our calls to waive the state 25% match requirement," said Senator Elizabeth Warren in a statement released by the delegation. She continued, "I remain disappointed that the overall Senate allotment of $150 million was cut to $75 million in order to reach an agreement with Republican leadership in the House, but this funding will provide much needed relief to our fishing families and I am grateful to Senator Mikulski for her leadership and support to secure this critical relief."
Senator Ed Markey stated that "the fact that the Northeast region received the most money for their fishing disaster shows just how bad it really has been in Massachusetts and across New England for our fishermen and their communities," and that "the task now is to make sure that Massachusetts fishermen and their families receive as much of the money as possible, as quickly as possible." Sen. Markey called waiving the state matching funds requirement "a crucial decision that will help speed up this process without putting additional burdens on the Commonwealth."
Congressman John Tierney said that "today's announcement that the New England groundfish fishery will be receiving $32.8 million in federal disaster assistance and that states will not be unduly burdened by a requirement to provide matching funds is the critical next step in this process." He promised to work with state officials and members of the industry "to ensure that Massachusetts receives its appropriate share and this long-overdue assistance is delivered to fishermen and their families as quickly as possible."
Congressman Stephen Lynch called the Northeast groundfish fishery "vital to the coastal communities in my district, the Commonwealth and the entire New England region." He noted that the fishery has "long been in need of economic relief," and that the funds were a "critical step towards ensuring that the fishing industry is provided the relief and support that it needs and continues to remain a viable industry for Massachusetts and New England."
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas declared that "this much needed assistance will support these hard-working men and women and their local economies that were hit hard in the wake of a federally declared economic disaster."
Congressman Joseph Kennedy stated that the funds "will help strengthen and sustain fisherman and their families, their businesses, and the fishing communities that rely on the industry as a major source of income and vitality."
Congressman Bill Keating called it "a critical step toward providing Massachusetts' fishing communities with long-awaited disaster assistance needed to alleviate the hardships our fishermen have been facing," as well as "an opportunity for investment in the continued vitality of this historic industry." With the announcement, Congressman Keating stated that he is "hopeful that this will allow for focus on the urgent issue at hand: finding effective uses for this overdue financial assistance."
Local elected officials in Massachusetts voiced similar support. "Our fishing industry will once more survive to lead another day," stated Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk. "We are deeply grateful to Congress and the Secretary of Commerce for their recognition of the disaster beyond our control, and the value of this industry to the nation."
Massachusetts State Senator Mark Montigny (D-Second Bristol and Plymouth), who represents New Bedford and surrounding towns, said that "the monies released today will go a long way to assist fishermen and their families cope with the almost complete loss of their livelihood" while calling on the federal government to do more. State Senator Bruce Tarr (R-1st Essex and Middlesex), who represents Gloucester and surrounding towns, called the funds "a critical lifeline for fishing families and ports" that he hoped would "prevent immediate extinction of commercial fishing in Massachusetts and New England." State Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-5th Essex), who representes Gloucester and surrounding towns, similarly called it a "good first step to getting disaster assistance quickly to small businesses and fishermen and their families," while noting that there are still many challenges facing the fishery.
The full announcement from NOAA is reproduced below:
As part of the Fiscal Year 2014 federal budget, Congress approved $75 million in fishery disaster relief funds. Today, NOAA Fisheries announced that the New England groundfish fishery will receive $33 million. Commercial and recreational fisheries in New Jersey and New York will receive $3 million for relief effort to address the impacts following Hurricane/post-tropical cyclone Sandy.
Two separate disasters were declared in the Northeast U.S. NOAA Fisheries will work with the eligible states affected by the disaster to quickly allocate the funding.
In 2012, The Secretary of Commerce declared a fishery disaster in anticipation of significant quota cuts for key groundfish stocks in the 2013 fishing year. In the aftermath of Sandy, the Secretary also declared a recreational and commercial fisheries disaster in New Jersey and New York.
"We are grateful to Congress for making available such a significant portion of the appropriated monies to support both the New England groundfish fishery as well as the commercial and recreational fishing businesses affected by Sandy in our region," said John Bullard, administrator, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, NOAA Fisheries. "We realize that for some no amount of funding would be sufficient to address the full economic impacts of these disasters, but hopefully this will help with immediate needs."
Over the next several months, details for how the money will be specifically used will be finalized. NOAA Fisheries staff will continue to work with state directors and members of the fishing industry to develop spend plans for these funds.
"We have already had a number of meetings with state fishery directors, fishing industry representatives and members of Congress to discuss how disaster funds could best address industry needs, both immediate and long term," added Bullard. "Now that we have a set amount of money identified, our work will become more focused. We want to move quickly to get this money out to those with immediate needs, but also we want to make wise decisions. So, it will take a little time to determine the best course of action to ensure this happens."
NOAA Fisheries has already been working with the states of New York and New Jersey to distribute $5 million in economic assistance that was previously appropriated by Congress. It is expected that new funds will be used to augment existing efforts to assist impacted businesses in these two states.
We have determined that matching requirements do not apply to states, Councils and Commissions in these particular situations.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Commerce Secretary can declare a fishery disaster, which makes it possible for Congress to appropriate funds to provide economic assistance to fishing businesses and communities, including fishermen, affected by a disaster and to support other activities addressing the disaster.
The recipients of the funding being announced today have broad latitude to determine the best use of the funds to meet the unique needs of their local businesses and communities. Funds can be used for activities that, "restore the fishery or prevent a similar failure in the future, and to assist a fishing community affected by such failure."
NOAA Fisheries will work closely with the states receiving the funding to help them develop spend plans and grant applications to the get the money to the fishers and others impacted by the disaster as quickly as possible.
There are a number of steps that have to take place before the money can be distributed. Funds are allocated out through the federal grant process. NOAA Fisheries works with the recipients to ensure that all statutory and grant requirements are addressed in their grant applications and spend plans. Once a spend plan is developed and the grant application is complete, there is generally a 2-3 month review process before the funds are made available to the recipient.