The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on Tuesday the distribution of $15.8 million in fishery disaster funding, appropriated under the American Relief Act of 2025. The money targets resource disasters recorded between 2019 and 2024 in three separate regions: the state of Florida, the California coastline, and the Makah Tribe’s waters in Washington.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the grants aim to help fishing businesses recover from losses tied to specific events. "These funds will support the people and communities that depend on healthy marine resources," Raimondo said in a statement.
The allocation covers several distinct incidents. In Florida, the funding addresses damage from Hurricane Ian, which struck the Gulf Coast in 2022. For the Makah Tribe, the money covers disruptions in the tribe’s ocean treaty troll fishery during 2020 and 2021, as well as declines in Fraser River sockeye salmon runs observed in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. In California, the funds are intended to offset revenue drops in the red sea urchin fishery that unfolded during the 2023‑2024 season.
NOAA Fisheries used commercial revenue data to determine how much each disaster would receive. Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler said the grants provide a "tangible way" for affected communities to lessen economic strain and work toward restoring fish stocks.
The agency said the money can be applied to a range of recovery activities, including direct aid to fishermen, upgrades to shore‑side infrastructure, habitat restoration projects, and buy‑back programs for vessels or permits. It may also fund job training, subsistence user support and other measures aimed at long‑term environmental and economic resilience.
Eligible entities can also pursue additional assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which offers working‑capital loans to businesses that suffered disaster‑related losses. Details about SBA loan options are available at sba.gov/disaster.
NOAA Fisheries will next publish a non‑competitive notice of funding opportunity, giving recipients a 120‑day window to submit formal applications. Affected fishing communities are being encouraged to coordinate with state or tribal officials to prepare their submissions.
The funding represents the latest federal effort to address the cumulative impacts of recent fishery disruptions on coastal economies and marine ecosystems.