Round 2 CARES Act Fisheries Relief Applications Due By Oct. 31

Applications for Round 2 CARES Act for Alaska fishery participants are available now on the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission website. They must be filled out and postmarked by Oct. 31 to be eligible for relief funds.

The announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game refers to aid being made available to fishermen financially impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which is ongoing more than two years after it began. The relief funds are from the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020 in response to the economic fallout of the pandemic.

ADF&G officials noted that applicants need to carefully review Alaska’s spend plan, https://relief.psmfc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Alaska-Final-Spend-Plan-Amendment-2022.06.30.pdf?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term= and application instructions before completing an application.

ADF&G advised that PSMFC will not mail applications to fishery participants unless explicitly requested. If requesting an application by mail, email [email protected], subject the message “Application Request.” All applicants should provide their name, the address where they receive mail, and indicate which application(s) they are requesting.

According to Kari Winkle, manager of the ADF&G commissioner’s office, the delay in payments in Round 1 was due to the large number of applications from Alaska that were either incomplete or contained errors. She advised that before submitting applications, applicants carefully review the ADF&G spend plan.

Questions and inquires related specifically to Alaska’s CARES Act fisheries relief should also be directed to [email protected] or call toll-free: (888) 517-7262. According to a recording posted on the hotline, eligibility post cards have been mailed to potentially eligible individuals, but receipt of these post cards does not confirm eligibility.

Applicants are responsible for mailing completed applications to the PSMFC via the U.S. Post Office, FedEx or UPS. Emailed applications will not be accepted. Applicants are encouraged to download and print applications from the PSMFC web site and to pay for tracking and/or delivery confirmation when mailing their application to the PSMFC, to verify when the application was received by the PSMFC.

Source: https://fishermensnews.com/round-2-cares-act-fisheries-relief-applications-due-by-oct-31/