January 12, 2021 — On Monday 11 January, a group of environmental organizations sent notice to Trump administration officials that the U.S. government is violating the Endangered Species Act, and giving notice they plan to take legal action as a result.
The Endangered Species Act requires a 60-day notice when groups plan to sue.
January 8, 2021 — Gina Raimondo received praise from fishing industry stakeholders on Thursday, 7 January, after reports broke that U.S. President-elect Joe Biden would choose her as his Commerce secretary.
National Fisheries Institute President John Connelly called Raimondo, who is currently the governor of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, an innovator capable of balancing the needs of conservation and commerce.
January 8, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:
Gov. Gina Raimondo is an innovator who understands the vital balance between resource management and the needs of the business community. We are encouraged that President-elect Biden has chosen a policy maker from a coastal state, who knows the importance of harvesting and the full seafood supply chain, for this leadership position.
We look forward to working with her to ensure the continued sustainability of America’s fisheries and the entire seafood value chain.
January 7, 2021 — The Ocean State’s leader is set to become a key player in the U.S. commercial fishing industry.
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo is set to be nominated by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to serve as his Commerce Secretary, according to Politico.
December 7, 2020 — Almost exactly seven months after USD 300 million (EUR 247 million) in funds were released to U.S. fisheries through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), over one-third of the money slated for distribution hasn’t even had its method of distribution decided on.
The funds, released on 7 May, were announced by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for disbursement in state-by-state amounts. The funds were to be distributed through NOAA, with each state charged with creating and executing its own individual spend plan.
December 3, 2020 — In May 2020 Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the allocation of $300 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by Sec. 12005 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. We’re less a month away from 2021 … so the funds have all been dispersed, right? Not quite. According to a recent report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), as of October 23, only about $16.5 million of the $300 million has been disbursed.
The CARES Act authorizes the Department of Commerce to provide assistance to eligible tribal, subsistence, commercial and charter fishery participants who have been affected by COVID-19. NOAA turned to their partners—the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission—to disburse the funds. However, before they could begin the payouts, the commissions had to work with the states, tribes and territories to develop spend plans for NOAA’s approval.
November 27, 2020 — The following was released by The Office of Congresswomen Aumua Amata (R-American Samoa):
Wednesday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata welcomed the announcement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4.4 million grant to American Samoa to support commercial fishing workforce development and economic diversification efforts. The EDA grant, to be located in a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone, will create 50 jobs and generate $2 million in private investment.
“Jobs and development is always great news,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Commercial fishing is the backbone of our economy, and fishing has always fed the Samoan people. This creative project is a real credit to the opportunity zone legislation. Thank you to Secretary Ross and Assistant Secretary Gartzke for directing this important investment right where it’s needed most.”
“The Trump Administration is committed to ensuring underserved communities grow through strategic investment and innovative workforce development,” said Secretary of Commerce Ross. “This project will provide American Samoa with a fleet of commercial fishing vessels to be used for worker training and as business incubators. The project’s location in an Opportunity Zone will drive additional investment to the islands.”
November 4, 2020 — Businesses in Hawaii’s fishing and aquaculture sectors can begin applying for federal coronavirus relief funding.
The U.S. Department of Commerce opened the application period Monday for qualified fisheries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Garden Island reported Monday.
More than $300 million in federal funding was allocated for fisheries and aquaculture, including more than $4.3 million for Hawaii businesses.
Applications must be submitted to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission by Nov. 23.
Applicants should be able to claim revenue losses of more than 35% compared to their previous five years of average revenue or negative impacts to their subsistence, cultural or ceremonial fisheries.
October 21, 2020 — A $16 million grant is bound for the city of New Bedford to improve the city’s port, helping prepare it for future natural disasters.
According to a U.S. Economic Development Administration press release, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the grant funding on Tuesday.
The money, according to the press release, will “make port infrastructure improvements needed to protect commercial fishing businesses from floods and severe weather events.”
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant, to be located in a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone, will be matched with $4 million in local funds and is expected to create or retain more than 400 jobs and spur $4 million in private investment, the press release states.
According to a Tweet from New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, a majority of the matching funds will come from the state, with the New Bedford Port Authority chipping in $500,000.
October 21, 2020 — New Bedford has landed a $16 million federal grant for port infrastructure improvements to protect commercial fishing businesses from floods and severe weather events.
The investment will be matched with $4 million in local funds, and is expected to create or retain 400 jobs and spur $4 million in private investment. The matching funds will come from from the state and the New Bedford Port Authority. The funding was made possible because the port is located in a federal tax cuts and opportunity zone.
The Economic Development Administration grant was announced by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Tuesday.
“The Trump Administration is committed to helping disaster-impacted American communities obtain the modern infrastructure they need to build resilience against natural disasters,” said Ross in a media release. “These port infrastructure improvements will better protect New Bedford’s commercial fishing industry from flooding, and the project’s location in an Opportunity Zone will drive additional private investment to the community.”
The grant represents “another major step in our effort to modernize the Port of New Bedford and maintain its standing as America’s leading commercial fishing port and the economic hub of Southeastern Massachusetts,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “Enhancing the resilience of port infrastructure is central to both our economic development strategy and climate adaptation efforts.”