November 6, 2020 — Louisiana commercial fishermen and processors who have lost business because of the COVID-19 pandemic have until Nov. 23 to apply for a share of $14.6 million in federal aid.
The CARES Act, which Congress passed in March, provides $300 million to assist hard-hit fisheries across the U.S. Louisiana is receiving the eighth largest investment of those states and territories.
The original deadline to apply was Oct. 26. But hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta and their impact on Louisiana coastal areas prompted the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to extend the deadline.
“The department wants to ensure that everyone impacted by those hurricanes has ample opportunity to apply for the CARES Act relief funds,” Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet said in a news release. “This extension will provide those persons more time to devote to repairing and getting services to their homes and taking care of the immediate needs of their family.”
Stay-at-home orders and shutdowns states have ordered in an effort to slow the deadly virus’s spread have closed or slowed business at many restaurants and markets, wreaking havoc on the supply chain upon which fishermen usually rely.