NOAA Allocates $15.8 Million to Restore Impacted Fisheries in Florida, California, and Washington

The U.S. Commerce Department, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced a $15.8 million allocation in fishery resource disaster funding designed to support coastal economies in Florida, California, and the Makah Tribe in Washington state. This funding addresses multiple declared fishery resource disasters that occurred between 2019 and 2024, aiming to assist commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, for-hire businesses, and subsistence users in recovering from significant resource losses. The announcement, made on October 22, 2026, applies to specific disasters previously declared by NOAA. In Florida, the funding targets the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022. In Washington state, the allocation supports the Makah Tribe's ocean treaty troll fishery, which faced disasters in 2020 and 2021, as well as the Makah Tribe's Fraser sockeye salmon fisheries, which were impacted in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023. In California, the funds are directed toward the red sea urchin fishery, which experienced disasters during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., emphasized the critical role of the seafood industry in sustaining coastal livelihoods. "Our fishermen depend on each catch to sustain their livelihoods, yet fishery disasters can have devastating impacts on the businesses and communities that rely on these resources," Jacobs stated. "NOAA is committed to supporting and uplifting our coastal businesses and communities through such challenges so they can continue to thrive." Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, noted that the allocation utilizes commercial revenue loss information to distribute funds across eligible disasters. "These fishery disaster funding allocations are a tangible way to assist these communities in mitigating impacts and restoring fisheries," Soler said. The funds are intended to improve the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the impacted fisheries. Eligible uses for the $15.8 million include direct assistance to fishermen, fishery-related infrastructure projects, habitat restoration, state-run vessel and fishing permit buybacks, and job retraining programs. Additionally, eligible businesses and tribal entities may access other federal relief programs, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which provides working capital for fixed debts, payroll, and accounts payable resulting from the disaster. NOAA Fisheries will issue a non-competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity letter to recipients, providing a 120-day window to submit applications. Affected fishing communities and individuals are advised to work with their respective state or tribal governments for assistance. **References** 1. NOAA. (2026, October 22). Commerce Department allocates $15.8M in fishery disaster funding to Fla., Calif., and Makah Tribe. https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/commerce-department-allocates-15-point-8-million-in-fishery-disaster-funding-to-fl-ca-and-makah-tribe #NexSouk #AIForGood #EthicalAI #ClimateResilience #MakahFishery