Alaska “Round Two” CARES Act Funding Now Available to Seafood Sector and Charter Operators
August 2, 2022
The second round of fisheries assistance for COVID-related losses was announced on July 29 for Alaska fishermen, processors and charter operators. The amount of $39.3 million was similar to the first round of funding and is intended to reimburse losses incurred in 2020 due to the pandemic.
As with the first round, only those who can certify that they incurred a greater than 35% of their 2015-2019 average in fishery participation gross revenue between March 1 and December 31, 2020, may apply.
Applicants for second round funding will have “at least” 90 days to apply, according to ADF&G’s announcement. More details, including a current deadline of October 31, 2022, are included in that link.
While each of the nation’s coastal states came up with details on allocating funds, Alaska’s final program differed from NOAA guidance significantly by raising the allocation to the sports sector at a cost to commercial harvesters and the processing sector. In round one funding, which has already been paid, that resulted in an average payout to those in the sport sector of $10,895.15 per share and to commercial harvesters of $3,208 per share.
The allocation of the second round will be done under the same percentage scheme: 27% to the sports charter sector (compared to NOAA’s suggested 5.5%), 35% to commercial harvesters (NOAA’s recommendation was35.2%), and 32% to the processing sector (compared to NOAA’s 59.3% which covered “processors, dealers, wholesalers, and distributors”). Alaska also added 6% to the subsistence sector, where NOAA provided no guidance for that group’s share.
Because this is the last relief coming for 2020 COVID-related losses, a requirement of recipients known as “Cannot Be Made More Than Whole” will be looked at closely here.
“Once share values are calculated, applications will be reviewed to ensure applicants will not be made more than whole by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 payments. If an applicant will be made more than whole, the payment will be reduced accordingly. Excess funds will be distributed between remaining eligible applicants using the established share system for the sector. If excess funds still exist after all applicants have been made whole, they will be shifted to the subsistence sector,” Alaska’s program notes.
Further information on the Washington program can be found here.
Peggy ParkerSeafoodNews.com1-781-861-1441peggyparker@urnerbarry.com8/2/22, 4:47 PM 2/2
STORY TAGS:CARES Act, Alaska CARES relief plan Story Posted: 8/2/2022 9:09:10 AM