(The Center Square) – Louisiana will open applications Oct. 19 for about $27 million in federal disaster assistance for fishing businesses affected by hurricanes in 2020 and 2021.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Thursday that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration allocated the funding. Prequalification letters were scheduled to be mailed Friday, outlining potential payments and the documentation applicants must provide.
The assistance covers qualifying commercial vessel owners, fishermen, seafood dealers, charter captains and processors. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 31.
The program is not first-come, first-served. According to the department, all eligible applicants who submit an application before the deadline will receive a direct assistance payment. Applications will be reviewed in the order received.
“We are grateful to NOAA for approving this $27 million disaster assistance that will provide much-needed support for our fishing communities,” Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Tyler Bosworth said in the announcement. “We are hopeful that these funds can assist our seafood community after the impacts from these hurricanes.”
For commercial vessel owners, wholesale dealers and docks, fresh product dealers and fishermen, prequalification is based on holding a resident commercial license in 2019, 2020 or 2021 and having corresponding saltwater seafood sales documented on department trip tickets in at least one qualifying year.
Charter captains who held a resident commercial charter license during one of those years also will receive prequalification letters.
The letters will include eligible payment amounts for 2020 and 2021, required application documents and unique identification numbers needed to apply online. Applicants must review the amounts and use the application process to accept or decline payment or request additional information.
The department has prepared summaries of qualifying calculations and trip ticket data for each prequalified entity. Applicants may request that information before accepting an award and may appeal eligibility or payment determinations through the same portal.
All applicants must provide a current government-issued photo ID for the person named on the license or the business’s registered agent. Each entity also must hold a current, valid department license for every qualifying sector when applying.
Charter captains who have not reported fishing activity through Louisiana’s LA Creel survey during the preceding 12 months must provide documentation showing charter fishing activity during that period.
Seafood processors could not be prequalified and will receive separate letters explaining eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Processors must provide annual financial information for the years they operated between 2016 and 2022, showing the quantities and costs of Louisiana wild-caught crab, oysters, shrimp and saltwater finfish purchased. Foreign seafood and seafood from other states will not count toward payment calculations.
The department requires certified public accountant-certified and notarized annual financial reports. Processors who do not use a CPA may submit a signed, notarized affidavit containing the required information. They also must provide a current Louisiana Department of Health permit.
