NOAA releases $700K to assist R.I. fishermen

PROVIDENCE – A new wave of federal funding has been released from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide direct assistance to Rhode Island fishermen affected by the 2013 groundfish disaster.
Groundfish include cod, flounder and whiting.
Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and the state Department of Environmental Management made the announcement this past weekend regarding the $705,658 allocation, which also will support a recruitment and training program to help increase the commercial fishing industry’s workforce.
This third installment of federal funding related to the groundfish disaster brings the Ocean State’s total share to $2.65 million, according to a news release.
The funds are part of a $75 million appropriation package included in the fiscal 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act to respond to six declared fishery disasters nationwide.
Four years ago, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce declared a disaster for the Northeast groundfishery due to sharp reductions in catch limits anticipated for the 2013 fishing year.
Then in 2014, an agreement was reached to ensure that Northeast fishermen would receive approximately $32.84 million from the $75 million pot of disaster relief funding. Funds were to be paid out in three installments, with $1.4 million distributed to Rhode Island in the fall of 2014. The state’s application for its second pot of funding – $545,367 – was approved by NOAA in spring 2015 and is being administered by DEM in the form of direct-assistance payments to affected fishermen.
The DEM also will administer the latest funding package, which will be used as direct assistance to fishermen including captains and crew to mitigate economic impacts of reductions in quotas for several species of groundfish. The money also will be used by DEM to develop a recruitment and training program for commercial crew members focusing on safety, operations and species identification, among other issues.

“I worked hard to include this federal assistance and I am glad it is finally being allocated to Rhode Island. My goal was to provide the state and fishermen with wide latitude to put the money to areas of greatest need. These funds should provide some much needed help for our fishermen and fishing communities. Fishing is vital to our history and our economy, and we need smart policies and investments that will help set the groundfish fishery on a more viable, sustainable path for the future as well,” U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed said in a statement.

Raimondo said commercial fishing in Rhode Island is an important sector of the economy, as it supports shore-side businesses, processing facilities and thousands of local jobs.
“And it is an industry ripe for growth. I applaud all partners involved in securing this funding and working with the industry to apply these resources toward workforce development; this is an innovative approach that will create jobs, support working families, and strengthen our economy,” she said.

Direct-assistance fund eligibility is based on criteria established by DEM in consultation with the fishing industry.

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Rhode Island has a diverse commercial fishing industry, with groundfish being one part. The total ex-vessel value of all commercial species landed in the state is approximately $80 million annually. Those landings generate $200 million in direct sales to wholesale and retail markets. In addition, employment directly associated with the state’s commercial fishing industry is estimated at 5,000 jobs, according to the release.

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