The state Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting applications for the second round of federal coronavirus pandemic relief for seafood-related operations.
Commercial fishers, marine aquaculture operators, seafood dealers and processors and for-hire fishing operators who can document a revenue loss of more than 35% last year compared to the previous five-year average due to COVID-19 are eligible to apply for the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, or CARES Act II, Fisheries Relief Program, the agency announced. The deadline is Oct. 1.
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Application packets are on the division’s Economic Relief Programs webpage or at division offices for eligible stakeholders who are not licensed by the division.
The state is to receive $4.5 million in federal relief to be distributed through direct payments to fisheries-related groups affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is in addition to the $5.4 million in federal fisheries coronavirus relief distributed in the state earlier this year.
Operators will need to complete the application and provide an affidavit and supporting materials that document loss of revenue greater than 35% from March 1, 2020, through Dec 31, 2020, compared to the average revenue from March 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2019. Eligible stakeholders who received relief from previous funding can apply for the again, but any assistance will be adjusted for the amount already received.
The goal is to put participants in the same position financially as they would have been had COVID-19 not occurred.
Applications and supporting documentation must be either delivered in person to the division Headquarters Office at 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City or mailed to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, CARES Act II Fisheries Relief Program, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City N.C. 28557 by 5 p.m. Oct. 1. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted at other division offices.
For more information, email covid19relief@ncdenr.gov or call the division’s License and Statistics Office at 252-503-3091.
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