February 3, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Commerce Howard Lutnick told U.S. senators at his confirmation hearing that he would not dismantle NOAA and would work to protect American fishers.
Under questioning from lawmakers, Lutnick said that he looked forward to working with the president in implementing tariffs to gain respect from foreign nations.
October 28, 2024 — A bill introduced by U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) would open federal fishery resource disaster funding to American fisheries devastated by foreign competition, such as the domestic shrimp sector.
“Our domestic fisheries are under assault not only from illegal and subsidized foreign competition but also from bureaucratic red tape failing to protect American industries,” Mace said in a statement. “The Protect American Fisheries Act takes a stand against these harmful practices and the inefficiencies in our system allowing them to persist. This legislation ensures we can cut through the red tape, defend the livelihoods of hardworking American fishermen, and strengthen our coastal economies by targeting illegal fishing, predatory pricing, and foreign market distortions.”
October 1, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Commerce has allocated USD 40 million (EUR 36 million) in financial relief to fishers and businesses impacted by the 2023/2024 Alaska Bering Sea snow crab fishery.
“As climate change continues to have severe impacts on the fisheries and ecosystems that are vital to Alaska’s economy, the Department of Commerce remains committed to providing disaster relief across the state,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo said. “This funding will help Alaskans recover from the Bering Sea Snow Crab Fishery disaster, support the community’s efforts to prevent future disasters, and keep jobs, recreation and cultural connections thriving.”
September 19, 2024 — A group of U.S. senators claim that a newly implemented financial management software has caused delays in the allocation of fishery disaster funds, and they want answers.
The USD 341 million (EUR 306 million) Business Application Solution was built to modernize the U.S. Department of Commerce’s financial operations, but federal lawmakers claim the software has resulted in system failures and delays, including to NOAA’s fishery disaster program.
August 28, 2024 — U.S. federal legislators are coalescing around a bill to streamline the government’s process for doling out financial relief related to fishery disasters.
Even when a request for aid is swiftly filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), it can take several months to multiple years for fishers to receive federal money. For fishers who often live on tight margins, surviving the loss of income from a fishery disaster for long periods without federal relief is a difficult prospect
August 5, 2024 — The public can now help even more in the ongoing climate change battle after the Biden-Harris Administration and NOAA unveiled hundreds of thousands of dollars available in grants for citizen science projects.
On Monday, the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced $600,000 in grants is being made available to members of the public to conduct science experiments that help fisheries and fishing communities prepare for climate change.
NOAA Fisheries will offer funding between $75,000 and $200,000 for three to eight projects during 2025/2026 chosen from applications that are now open to the public. The deadline to apply is Nov. 4, 2024.
NOAA says they are seeking proposals for citizen science projects in an effort to find gaps in data on the health of marine fish stocks and/or how fisheries and fishing communities could be impacted by changing environmental conditions.
August 5, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced a $600,000 funding opportunity for members of the public to conduct science that helps fisheries and fishing communities prepare for climate change. These funds are made possible by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in U.S. history.
NOAA Fisheries is seeking proposals for citizen science projects, marking a unique collaboration with members of the general public who will actively participate in the scientific process, alongside researchers, to address real-world questions. These projects aim to produce information that could help to address data gaps in assessing the health of marine fish stocks or how fisheries and fishing communities may be impacted by changing environmental conditions.
By harnessing the power of citizen science, NOAA seeks to expand the breadth and depth of observations available, accelerating data collection and delivery.
“Given the impacts of climate change on fisheries, it’s crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of shifts in commercial, recreational and subsistence fishing, as well as their associated communities,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Observations from people living in affected communities, what we call citizen science, has the potential to give us a better understanding of climate impacts and help us navigate those challenges.”
These funds are expected to support three to eight different projects at approximately $75,000 to $200,000 per project during fiscal years 2025-2026. This research will help increase the number and types of observations NOAA can make, accelerating the collection and delivery of data, and contributing to timely and accurate management decisions for vulnerable species and sustainable fisheries.
How to apply for funding
Applications can be submitted through the Grants.gov website by 11/4/2024. Projects should be designed with scientific quality and data credibility as core considerations and are available to applicants including individuals, academic institutions, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, state governments and tribal and local organizations. Additional information for applicants is available on the NOAA Fisheries website.
This funding opportunity follows NOAA Fisheries’ June 2023 announcement highlighting the agency’s intentions for $145 million of Inflation Reduction Act funds focused on transforming our data enterprise.
More: Visit NOAA’s NOAA’s Inflation Reduction Act web portal to learn about current and future funding opportunities.
June 22, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the allocation of $12.2 million to address fishery resource disasters that occurred in Alaska’s 2022 Kuskokwim River salmon fishery, 2021 and 2022 Upper Cook Inlet East Side Setnet salmon fishery and the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s 2021 Puget Sound fall chum and coho salmon fisheries.
Congress provided fishery resource disaster assistance funding in the 2022 and 2023 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Acts. Positive determinations make these fisheries eligible to receive a funding allocation from those appropriations. The funds will improve the impacted fisheries’ long-term social, economic and environmental sustainability. The allocation may fund activities in support of commercial, recreational, tribal fishing communities and subsistence users, as well as other associated industries affected by the disaster.
“Each year, we see how climate change continues to have severe impacts on the fisheries and ecosystems that are vital to our economy, and the Commerce Department is working to mitigate these impacts,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Raimondo. “This funding will assist with the recovery of salmon fisheries in communities across Alaska and Puget Sound by bolstering fisheries restoration efforts, minimizing the risk of future disasters and helping build back stronger.”
NOAA Fisheries used commercial, processor and charter fishery revenue loss information to allocate funding across the eligible fishery resource disasters. Additionally, the agency considered the traditional, cultural and ceremonial uses of fisheries resources, including subsistence, recognizing that such uses extend beyond what can be quantified solely through commercial revenue loss.
“Productive and sustainable fisheries are essential for nurturing our Blue Economy, generating employment opportunities, providing sustenance, supporting Alaska Native cultural traditions and preserving the health of our ocean ecosystem,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “We are optimistic that these disaster funds will make a beneficial impact on the ongoing recovery of the affected tribes and fisheries.”
In the coming months, NOAA Fisheries will work with the State of Alaska and the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe to administer these disaster relief funds. Activities that can be considered for funding include restoration and prevention efforts, including fishery-related infrastructure projects, habitat restoration initiatives, state-run vessel and permit buyback programs, and job retraining initiatives.
Fishing communities and individuals impacted by these disasters are encouraged to collaborate with the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, and/or the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and the State of Alaska, as appropriate. These entities will be responsible for formulating spend plans for the allocated funds. Additionally, certain fishery-related businesses affected by the disasters might also qualify for assistance from the Small Business Administration.
See a summary of fishery disaster determinations, including this announcement, and learn more about fishery disaster assistance.
May 28, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has unveiled its preliminary determinations on antidumping duties for Ecuador and Indonesia, with most companies in Ecuador facing an additional charge of over 10 percent.
The DOC launched the investigation in November 2023 in response to trade petitions filed by the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA), targeting India and Vietnam with countervailing duties and Ecuador and Indonesia with both countervailing and antidumping duties.
May 19, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries has recommended awarding USD 5.5 million (EUR 5 million) in grant funding to 22 projects under a program designed to help various species in U.S. waters recover.
The recommendations are not final and will need to be reviewed by both the NOAA Grants Management Division and the U.S. Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Law Division before funding is distributed.