News from NOAA Fisheries - CARES Act Funding and American Seafood Executive Order

This NOAA Fishery News Bulletin is provided to our subscribers as a courtesy:  Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. May 7, 2020                                                          Commerce Secretary Announces Allocation of $300 Million in CARES Act Funding Today, the Secretary of Commerce announced the allocation of $300 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by Sec. 12005 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also called the CARES Act, to states, Tribes, and territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who have been negatively affected by COVID-19 As a next step, NOAA Fisheries will use these allocations to make awards to our partners, the interstate marine fisheries commissions, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to disburse funds to address direct or indirect fishery-related losses as well as subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial impacts related to COVID-19. Fishery participants eligible for funding-including Tribes, commercial fishing businesses, charter/for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors, and other fishery-related businesses-should work with their state marine fisheries management agencies, territories, or Tribe to understand the process for applying for these funds.  President Signs New Executive Order Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth Today, the President signed a new Executive Order Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. This Executive Order will propel the United States forward as a seafood superpower by strengthening the American economy; improving the competitiveness of American industry; ensuring food security; providing environmentally safe and sustainable seafood; supporting American workers; and ensuring coordinated and transparent Federal actions. Specifically, the Executive Order calls for the expansion of sustainable U.S. seafood production through more efficient and predictable aquaculture permitting, cutting-edge research and development, regulatory reform to maximize commercial fishing, and enforcement of common-sense restrictions on seafood imports that do not meet American standards. About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.      Emily Muehlstein Public Information Officer 888-833-1844 ext. 238

http://live.oysterradio.com/