The latest CARES Act funding for American Samoa is for the territory’s fishermen and fisheries related businesses.
Congresswoman Aumua Amata today announced a $2,553,194 million CARES Act grant for coronavirus relief for American Samoa’s fishermen.
This is from an allocation of $300 million in fisheries assistance that was announced by US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
Congress provided this funding in Sec. 12005 of the CARES Act, to States, Tribes, and Territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who have been negatively affected by COVID-19.
“Thank you to our hardworking fishermen who provide fish to feed the country,” said Aumua Amata. “Food security is a very real part of national security. Our fishing industry is important, and challenged by interruptions and costs because of the pandemic. Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Ross for this assistance.”
NOAA announced the agency will use these allocations to make awards 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.
