February 1, 2021 — The following was released by The Office of Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ):
Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today applauded the distribution of COVID-19 relief funding to New Jersey’s fishing communities. New Jersey received $11 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that Congress passed and was signed into law last March. The funding was allocated to aid commercial fishing businesses, charter and for-hire fishing businesses, aquaculture operations, processors, and other fishery-related businesses in New Jersey.
“Our fishing communities have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which is why I fought so hard to include robust funding in the CARES Act and have worked to ensure that funding is distributed to those who need it most. I’m pleased to see that New Jersey’s commercial and recreational fishing industry is finally receiving the help they need,” said Congressman Pallone. “The economic impacts of the pandemic have been felt deeply across our state and have been especially severe for the hardworking men and women who make our fishing industry so strong. I’ll continue to work to ensure that the fishing community in New Jersey receives the assistance it needs to weather this ongoing economic storm.”
Last April, Pallone sent a letter with the New Jersey delegation calling on the Trump Administration to fairly and quickly distribute financial aid to the fishing industries in states like New Jersey that incurred greater economic losses as a result of the pandemic. Pallone later announced New Jersey would receive $11 million in federal funding to help the state’s fishing industry. The omnibus spending bill and COVID relief package Congress passed last December and was signed into law included an additional $300 million in aid to the fishing communities.
New Jersey’s commercial fishing industry generates over $8 billion annually supporting over 50,000 jobs and has one of the largest saltwater recreational fishing industries in the United States.