August 18, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
Through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress and NOAA have allocated an additional $3.6 million to eligible Hawai‘i fishery participants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Applications for “Round 2” CARES Act assistance will be available beginning Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) website.
Applications must be submitted to the PSMFC by Sept. 30, 2021. Interested applicants should carefully review Hawai‘i’s Round 2 spend plan (also available on the PSMFC website) to determine their eligibility. At a minimum, applicants must be able to claim:
- Economic revenue losses greater than 35% as compared to the prior 5-year* average revenue; or
- Any negative impacts to subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial fisheries
*Entities that have been in business less than five years are still eligible for assistance.
Fishery participants eligible for funding include commercial fishing businesses, charter/for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, wholesale seafood dealers and processors, subsistence/cultural/ceremonial fishers, and other fishery-related businesses.
If you have CARES Act related questions, please email hicares@psmfc.org or call toll free (877) 695-3457.