October 13, 2020 — Marine fishery businesses have until Thursday to apply for federal COVID-19 relief.
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act passed by Congress in March 2020, the federal government set aside $2 million in funds to be distributed to commercial fishermen, wholesale dealers, processors of saltwater species, aquaculturists with a Georgia commercial fishing license and for-hire guides, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
Of that, a total of $1.87 million is expected to be awarded to successful applicants.
Participants in Georgia’s marine commercial and for-hire industry who experienced a greater than 35 percent loss in revenue between March and May 2020 due to COVID-19 as compared to the same months in the prior five-year period may qualify for federal aid.