NOAA Federal Fishery Disasters — Opportunity for Public Comment
— ADF&G Press Release

Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526


Press Release: May 25, 2022

CONTACT: Karla Bush, Extended Jurisdiction Program Manager, (907) 465-6153 , dfg.com.fisheriesdisasters@alaska.gov

NOAA Federal Fishery Disasters — Opportunity for Public Comment

(Juneau) — The Secretary of Commerce announced allocation of $144 million appropriated by Congress for fishery disasters, of which $131.8 million is for Alaska. Further detail regarding specific allocations and qualified fisheries may be found below and on the Department of Fish and Game's webpage https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hottopics.fisherydisasters.

  1. 2019 Norton Sound Red king crab: $1,433,137
  2. 2020 Norton Sound, Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, Chignik, and Southeast Alaska salmon; and 2021 Yukon River salmon: $55,928,849
  3. 2018 Upper Cook Inlet East Side Set Net and 2020 Upper Cook Inlet salmon: $9,404,672
  4. 2018 and 2020 Copper River and Prince William Sound salmon: $34,326,265
  5. 2019/2020 Eastern Bering Sea Tanner crab: $12,935,199
  6. 2020 Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod: $17,772,540

ADF&G will draft initial spend plans for the six recently funded fishery disasters based on input received through public comment. The comment period will remain open until June 15, 2022.

Previous Alaska fishery disaster spend plans have provided funds for two general categories: research and direct payments to affected fishery participants such as harvesters, processors, communities, and households. To assist in development of the spend plans for the six recent fishery disasters, the State is requesting comments on: categories of affected fishery participants to receive direct payments, eligibility criteria for direct payments, how to allocate funds among the categories of fishery participants, how to allocate funds among fisheries if several areas or years are included in the fishery disaster; and recommendations for research priorities.

Comments may be emailed to: dfg.com.fisheriesdisasters@alaska.gov or sent via mail.

ADF&G attn: Karla Bush
PO Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5525

Additional opportunities to comment on the draft plans will be provided before the final plans are submitted to the Secretary of Commerce for approval.