Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with Representative Mary Sattler Peltola, have welcomed the announcement of $277 million in funding for Alaska fishery disasters from the U.S. Department of Commerce. This funding will be directed to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission for distribution among fishermen, their crews, seafood processors, and communities affected by fishery disasters between 2020 and 2023.

“There is no question that fisheries and coastal communities in Alaska need help as they navigate catastrophic fishery collapses,” Senator Murkowski stated. “Although I am grateful our fishermen and communities will finally see some relief, for many it might be too little too late. After years of waiting, some have already moved onto other professions, and in some cases have even left the state. I will continue working with my colleagues to pass legislation to streamline the process so these regulatory delays are a thing of the past. I am hopeful this assistance will help Alaska’s hardworking fishermen recover from a devastating few years so they can get back on the water and return to their active role in this critical industry.”

Senator Sullivan added: “I’m glad to see this significant batch of federal relief dollars finally being distributed to our hard-working fishermen and coastal communities. These Alaskans should never have had to wait this long to see this relief processed—a frustration I raised with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and NOAA Fisheries Director Janet Coit on numerous occasions in recent months. The Commerce Department must address the serious disruptions caused by their new financial management system and other bureaucratic hurdles. I have put forward legislation with Senator Rick Scott to enact timelines on the executive branch’s approval process for these disasters to ensure our fishermen are receiving the relief dollars they are due in a timely fashion. We need this funding to expeditiously reach Alaskans so that they can weather these disasters over the long-term and continue to responsibly harvest the freshest, most sustainable seafood in the world.”

Representative Peltola commented: “Our fishermen and fishing families have suffered enough the last few years – when disaster strikes, it only sets us back further. This funding is critical in helping our fisheries recover and support the communities all over Alaska, and beyond, that rely on their seafood product output.”

The allocation includes:

- $17,772,540 for Alaska Gulf of Pacific Cod Fishery 2020

- $43,730,937 for Alaska 2018 East Side Setnet Salmon and 2020 Upper Cook Inlet Salmon Fisheries

- $193,915,406 for Alaska Bering Sea Crab Fisheries (2021/2022), Norton Sound Red King Crab Fisheries (2020/2021), Bering Sea Crab Fisheries (2022/2023)

- $4,989,902 for Alaska Chignik Salmon Fishery 2021

- $16,998,673 for various salmon fisheries including Norton Sound Salmon Fisheries 2021

This financial aid aims at supporting those who rely on these fisheries amidst challenging times.

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