September 8, 2014 — The picture is becoming clearer of which Massachusetts fishing stakeholders will share in the $8.3 million contained in the second phase of federal fishery disaster funding.
Following a meeting last Friday in Gloucester, the state and a working group of stakeholders are close to finalizing a plan that largely would assist permit holders that did not qualify for the first $6.5 million currently being distributed in the initial phase of funding.
“We’re proposing that the largest portion of the groundfish disaster funds in Phase 2 go to commercial groundfish permit holders not covered in Phase 1,” said Mary B. Griffin, commissioner of the Department of Fish & Game. “After that, we’re trying to get money out to the other people affected by the groundfish disaster.”
Griffin said those recipients are expected to include groundfishermen who fish on state permits, as well as those who fish on federal permits.
The criteria and size of the payments to state and federal permit holders still are being determined, Griffin said.
Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times