Managers want input next week on how to spend it.
The Secretary of Commerce on May 5 announced allocation of $144 million approved by Congress for U.S. fishery disasters. Of that, $131.8 million – or nearly 92% – is for Alaska.
Allocations to specific Alaska fishery disasters are:
- 2019 Norton Sound Red king crab fishery: $1,433,137
- 2020 Norton Sound, Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, Chignik, and Southeast Alaska salmon fisheries, and 2021 Yukon River salmon fishery: $55,928,849
- 2018 Upper Cook Inlet East Side Set Net and 2020 Upper Cook Inlet salmon fisheries: $9,404,672
- 2018 and 2020 Copper River and Prince William Sound salmon fisheries: $34,326,265
- 2019/2020 Eastern Bering Sea Tanner crab fishery: $12,935,199
- 2020 Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod fishery: $17,772,540
“These awards will offset some of the economic impacts fishermen and communities suffered as well as help ensure that future disasters are prevented,” said AK Dept. of Fish and Game Commissioner, Doug Vincent-Lang.
ADF&G will work with affected stakeholders and NOAA Fisheries to identify funding priorities and develop spending plans for each fishery disaster. The funds can be used to assist fishing communities affected by the fishery failure by helping commercial fishermen, subsistence users, and shore-side businesses and infrastructure.
To receive initial input, ADF&G will hold a day long Zoom listening and comment session on May 11 from 9 am-4pm Alaska time. Here is the lineup, by Alaska region:
Fishery Disaster Spend Plans Listening Session
May 11, 2022. 09:00 AM – 4:00 PM Alaska Daylight Time
Join Zoom Meeting:
- https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87639321697?pwd=WHY3V0NmdmRtQlhCZmpEZVRVWHBJdz09
- Dial by your location:
- 888 475 4499 US Toll-free
- or 833 548 0276 US Toll-free
- or 833 548 0282 US Toll-free
- or 877 853 5257 US Toll-free
- Meeting ID: 876 3932 1697
- Passcode: 051122
Participants will have up to 3 minutes to provide comments. The listening session will be organized by regions and fisheries as outlined in the schedule below.
- 9:00 am: Yukon River and Kuskokwim River salmon
- 10:00 am: Norton Sound red king crab and salmon
- 11:00 am: Southeast Alaska salmon
- 1:00 pm: Upper Cook Inlet, Copper River, and Prince William Sound salmon
- 2:00 pm: Chignik salmon and GOA Pacific cod
- 3:00 pm: Bering Sea Tanner crab
If you are unable to attend the designated time for your fishery, please submit written comments to dfg.com.fisheriesdisasters@alaska.gov
ADF&G will draft initial spending plans based on input received during the listening session and through emailed comments.
Additional opportunities to comment on the draft will be provided before the final spending plans are submitted to the Secretary of Commerce for approval.
