The USDA announced on Sept. 9 that it is making approximately $530 million available to assist U.S. fishermen through the Seafood Trade Relief Program (STRP). This program is being funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation and administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Staff at local FSA offices will work with fishermen via phone, email, fax, mail or online tools such as Box and in person appointments where applicable. The FSA offices in Connecticut can be found at: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ct&agency=fsa
Through the STRP, the USDA will provide direct support to U.S. commercial fishermen who hold a valid federal or state license or permit and whose catch must be sold or transferred to a permitted or licensed seafood dealer or by a permitted dealer if the catch is processed at sea. Those grown in a controlled environment are not eligible for the program except for geoducks and salmon. www.farmers.gov/Seafood
Fishermen can sign up for relief through the program from September 14, 2020, to December 14, 2020.
Payments are based on 2019 landings of Atka mackerel; Dungeness, king, snow, and Southern tanner crab; flounder, geoduck, goosefish, herrings, lobster, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, pollock, sablefish, salmon, sole, squid, tuna and turbot.
More information:
Additional information about this program can be found on the National Sea Grant program’s Seafood Resources page.