Saving Seafood

CALIFORNIA: A San Diego Pier-to-Plate Seafood Market Is a Lifeline for Fishermen

July 2, 2020 — On the morning of March 18, Shane Slaughter loaded groceries, bait, and other provisions into his pickup truck. He was preparing for a week-long trip to the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California, where he and another fisherman harvest spot prawns on Slaughter’s 42-foot boat.

But something was off; they weren’t receiving text messages from the wholesalers who buy their coveted crustaceans, which end up in sushi bars and high-end restaurants throughout California.

“It was eerily quiet,” Slaughter said. “Our product is typically in super-high demand, but we weren’t hearing back from people we normally hear back from in seconds.”

With $400 worth of bait thawing in the cooler, the fishermen looked online to discover that restaurants throughout the state had been ordered to close their dining rooms to slow the spread of COVID-19. Some restaurants were still offering takeout and delivery, but Slaughter knew his prawns—like many sea critters—weren’t well-suited for the to-go menu.

Read the full story at Civil Eats

Paycheck Protection Program extended again, allowing more 1099 claims

July 2, 2020 — As the deadline for the Paycheck Protection Program’s small business extension drew to a close this week, Congress scrambled to approve an extension of the program to Aug. 8. Meanwhile, fishing businesses hurried to submit applications under the original deadline as new guidelines opened a door to the industry.

On Thursday, June 25, the Small Business Administration announced that the loan program, which was established as part of the CARES Act, would be expanded specifically to address a gap for the commercial fishing industry to include filings for 1099 workers.

“Extending the program to fishermen impacted by the pandemic will be a critical lifeline so they can continue to provide Americans with the safest, most sustainable seafood in the world,” said Leigh Habegger, executive director of Seafood Harvesters of America.

But the application deadline was Tuesday, June 30, giving the industry just four business days to collect paperwork and file — at the height of the summer season.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

MASSACHUSETTS: Senator Tarr Letter on NOAA ASM Waivers

July 2, 2020 — The following is an excerpt from a letter from Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr to multiple federal regulators in regards to at-sea monitor waivers:

The current waiver from the requirement of At Sea Monitoring (ASM) in the Northeast groundfishery is a critically important safeguard not only for the health and safety of those engaged in this fishery, but also for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 crisis, and should not be ended as our nation continues to confront devastating impacts of this disease. Accordingly, I write to join with Congressman Moulton and Congress Keating and the Massachusetts Fishing Partnership to request that you extend this waiver and the essential health protections that it provides.

Read the full letter here

Coronavirus in Maine: Lobster Industry Hit Hard Despite Few Cases

July 2, 2020 — Blaine Olsen, a lifelong lobsterman, was navigating his 30-foot boat off the coast of Stonington, Maine, when his sternman, who’s also his wife, yelled above the diesel engine’s din about the pittance the local cooperative was paying harvesters. He shot Ginny a doleful stare for a good five seconds.

“Holy sh-t, man,” he said. “It costs us $600 a day to go out.” The dock price — $2.25 a pound for soft-shell lobsters — was half what it was a year ago, making it virtually impossible to earn a profit.

The novel coronavirus has barely touched the public health of this corner of rural Down East Maine, with Hancock County reporting just 16 cases and one death as of June 30. Its economic health is another matter: The fallout from Covid-19 threatens a historically bad year for the Olsens and the rest of the state’s lobster industry.

Fear of contagion and the near-total shutdown of restaurants and cruise lines, where most consumers eat the crustaceans, have devastated demand. Infection-prevention protocols at processing plants have cut capacity, and the drop in air traffic has snarled the logistics of shipping live creatures. Hopes for a recovery anytime soon are dim because prices already typically fall in July.

Some 80 percent of American lobster, the U.S.’s most valuable marine fishery, comes from Maine. And more so than anywhere else, Maine lobster comes from the waters around Stonington. Lobstermen in this county hauled almost a third of the 101 million pounds (worth $485 million) landed statewide last year.

Read the full story at Bloomberg

Ranking Member Chabot Statement on PPP Extension

July 2, 2020 — The following was released by The Office of Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH):

Today, House Committee on Small Business Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH) issued the following statement on House passage of S. 4116, a bill that extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application period to August 8, 2020.

“Passage of this bill is welcome news, especially as many small businesses continue to face an uphill climb on the road to economic recovery.

This legislation will give more small businesses the chance to access the Paycheck Protection Program – a program that has already helped millions across the country. It also ensures the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) program will continue to operate once PPP funds are exhausted.

While our work is not done, I am glad Congress has yet again come together in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to support America’s small businesses.”

NOAA Changes Course, Observer Redeployment Delayed Through July 31

July 1, 2020 — NOAA Fisheries announced the redeployment of observers will be delayed through July 31, 2020 less than 24 hours before at-sea monitors were set to be aboard vessels in the Greater Atlantic Region.

Over the past four weeks, fishery councils, stakeholders and politicians have spoken out against the return of fishery observers, citing concerns regarding the health and safety of captains, crews and observers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full story at Seafood News

Restoration Projects Could Be Key to COVID-19 Recovery for Oregon Coast

July 1, 2020 — Communities on the Oregon coast could see sorely needed investments from an infrastructure bill now in Congress.

Jean Flemma, director of the Ocean Defense Initiative, said COVID-19 has hit the economies of coastal communities hard, with many fishing-related businesses losing their markets.

“A lot of fishermen themselves have found that they are having a hard time making ends meet — making their boat payments, etc.,” she said, “and in addition, coastal tourism — hotels were shut down, restaurants have been shut down.”

The Moving Forward Act would create a $3 billion program to invest in coastal restoration projects. U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Peter DeFazio, both D-Ore., are sponsoring the bill. The House is expected to vote on the bill today.

Flemma said restoration work on Oregon’s coast would help restore streams, coastal wetlands and tidal areas that are crucial for the habitats of salmon and other fish species. She said the work would have immediate benefits for the habitat itself.

Read the full story at Public News Service

Bill calls for grant funding for projects to bolster US coastal, fishing communities

July 1, 2020 — U.S. Representatives Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Florida) and Don Young (R-Alaska) filed a bill in Congress on Friday, 26 June, that calls for USD 3 billion (EUR 2.67 billion) in grants funding designed to restore the country’s coastal ecosystems, including fisheries.

The goal behind H.R. 7387, titled the “Shovel-Ready Restoration Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2020,” is to fund resilience-building projects that could help coastal communities regain jobs lost to the coronavirus pandemic.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Paycheck Protection Program Deadline Extension

July 1, 2020 — The following was released by The Office of Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK):

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to extend the Paycheck Protection Program to August 8, 2020. The small business loan program expired yesterday, on June 30. It now needs to pass the House in order for it to be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Just last week the Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration announced a rule allowing commercial fishing businesses to account for crew member payroll when applying for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, a change that the Alaska Congressional Delegation had been seeking for weeks. While commercial fishing businesses were previously eligible for PPP loans, before June 25th they were not fully able to take advantage of the PPP due to the Department of Treasury’s previous interpretation of eligible payroll costs. Treasury issued a rule on June 25th to address this. While the fix was welcome news, this gave commercial fishing businesses just days to apply for PPP funds before the June 30 deadline.

“We’ve seen the importance of the Paycheck Protection Program to countless small businesses in Alaska. During this unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, it has been helped them weather the storm,” said Senator Murkowski. “With last week’s fix to finally allow commercial fishing businesses to take full advantage of the program, this extension is absolutely necessary to give them the opportunity and time they need to apply. My hope is that the House quickly takes this legislation up so that we can give these small business owners, including our fisherman, the peace of mind they need.”

“The recent rule change enabling commercial fishermen to more fully access the Paycheck Protection Program was a big win for Alaska, but the narrow window of time left to apply—especially in the middle of fishing season for many—threatened to blunt the benefits,” said Senator Sullivan. “I thank my Senate colleagues for extending the PPP application deadline and, if this bill makes it past the House and the President’s desk, I urge all interested Alaska small businesses, including our hard-working fishermen, to apply quickly so they don’t miss out on the remaining PPP relief funds.”

Click here for more information on the Paycheck Protection Program.