October 13, 2014 — The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection is making more than $2 million in grant funding available to certain fishing-related businesses to help with Superstorm Sandy-related costs. Owners of bait-and-tackle shops, commercial dealers, commercial fishermen, for-hire party and charter boat operators, marinas and those involved in shell-fishing and aquaculture may apply for grants of up to $10,000 each to help offset some of the costs of the storm damage to their operations.
According to a DEP press release, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is providing the funds as part of a federal fishery disaster declaration for states impacted by Sandy.
“Superstorm Sandy dealt a severe blow to all sectors of the state’s commercial and recreational fishing industries,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “We have worked closely with both groups to develop an online application system and make the process as easy as possible for them. The program will focus on helping small businesses, which are the backbone of our state’s fishing industry.”
As the press release states, “New Jersey’s commercial fishing industry is one of the largest on the East Coast, landing roughly 175 million pounds of seafood and generating over $1.1 billion in economic activity in 2012. The economic impact of recreational fishing also supports approximately 10,000 jobs and $1.74 billion in annual sales.”
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