October 29, 2020 — The Department of Agriculture’s (DOAG) Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR) will help distribute nearly $1 million to eligible fishers in Guam. DAWR received approval of their spend plan and a notice to proceed.
Guam is the first territory to be approved. Out of 31 eligible states and territories, Guam is 1 of the first 17 approved. With this approval, DAWR is now ready to begin accepting and reviewing application packets to be processed for direct payments to fishers. Payments will be mailed directly to fishers by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Fishers who registered with DAWR, and were found to be eligible, may apply for the relief funding. Registration was a necessary first step in the relief process as it enabled DAWR to calculate payment amounts, which was an integral part of the spend plan.