The first deadline for Southeast Alaska fishermen to apply for relief funding from the abysmal 2020 salmon season is this Saturday, August 24.
A federal fishery disaster was declared for fisheries in the state with extraordinarily low returns.. The U.S. Department of Commerce at the time attributed those low runs to a series of marine heatwaves in the 2010’s and in 2022, the federal agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gave the state of Alaska about $56 million for those losses.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s draft spending plan, roughly $27 million of that is set aside for a fishery disaster in Southeast Alaska – the sockeye, chum, Coho, and pink salmon runs of 2020. Other fisheries receiving money include Norton Sound, the Yukon and Kuskokwim River areas, and Chignik. Another chunk of the money is headed directly to the state’s Fish and Game department for fishery research projects and program support.
There are two deadlines for those who qualify: the deadline for commercial permit holders and seafood processors is August 24. The deadline for fishing crew members impacted by the failure is Sept. 28.
After that September deadline, there will be a two-week review period for incorrect applications. The state’s Fish and Game says that those who qualify can expect a payout by the end of this year.
Click here to apply. For more information, visit the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission website or email AKFishDisaster@psmfc.org.
