U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today announced the U.S. Department of Commerce will direct nearly $132 million to Alaska for fishery disasters. The funds, which were appropriated by Congress, are part of a total of $144 million that will be disbursed nationwide for this purpose.
“I’m pleased to announce this crucial funding is finally on the way for Alaska’s seafood industry. After facing both serious fishery disasters and the pandemic, there are owners, employees, families, and entire communities in our state who can now breathe a little easier,” Senator Murkowski said. “I thank Secretary Raimondo and Director Young, who were strong partners at the Department of Commerce and OMB as we worked to reform and improve a truly broken approval process. Going forward, I will be pushing for further assistance, to help guarantee that Alaska’s industry can keep their operations up and running and continue to provide fresh, healthy seafood at home and around the globe.”
“I want to express my appreciation to Secretary Raimondo and OMB Director Young for working so closely with me and my team to get these disaster declarations approved and funds allocated for Alaska’s fishermen,” Senator Sullivan said. “These disasters have had a widespread impact across our state—devastating many of our coastal and river-based communities, fishermen, and Alaska Native subsistence users. While these federal dollars won’t make these Alaskans and their families whole, they will go a long way toward providing much-needed relief.”
Alaska FY 2022 Disaster Allocation
Fishery Disaster Allocations
2019 Alaska Norton Sound King Crab $1,434,571
Alaska 2018 Upper Cook Inlet
East Side Setnet Salmon and
2020 Upper Cook Inlet Salmon
Fisheries $9,414,087
2018 and 2020 Alaska Copper
River and Prince William Sound
Salmon Fisheries $34,360,624
2019 and 2020 Alaska Bering
Sea Tanner Crab Fishery $12,948,148
2020 Alaska Gulf of Alaska
Pacific Cod $17,790,330
Alaska Norton Sound, Yukon,
Chignik, Prince William Sound,
and Southeast Alaska Salmon
Fisheries, 2020 and 2021 Yukon
River Salmon Fishery $55,984,834
TOTAL $131,932,594
(Source: NOAA)
Related Issues: Alaska's Fisheries
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