ALASKA — NOAA announced the allocation of $123.6 million in fishery resource disaster funding. Congress appropriated this funding in the American Relief Act, 2025.

The funding addresses fishery resource disasters that occurred between 2019 and 2023 in Oregon, California, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and multiple Alaska fisheries. NOAA Fisheries used commercial revenue loss information to allocate funding across the eligible disasters.

NOAA administrator Neil Jacobs said, "Fishery resource disasters have devastating effects on local communities and our economy. This disaster funding provides much needed assistance to our fishing industry, and we will work with the affected communities to help them recover."

Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, said, "These fishery resource disasters are of great concern for the fishing industry and the people and communities that depend on these fisheries to support their local economies. NOAA will continue to provide guidance and resources to boost recovery and support more resilient fishing communities in the future."

The 2023/2024 Bering Sea snow crab fishery in Alaska is among the previously declared disasters. The 2023 Oregon ocean commercial salmon fishery and the 2022 Chignik salmon fishery in Alaska are also included. Additionally, the 2023 Upper Cook Inlet East Side Setnet salmon fishery in Alaska is covered.

California's 2024 Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook ocean and inland salmon fisheries are included. The 2023 Squaxin Island Tribe Puget Sound Fall Chum salmon fishery in Washington is also part of the declared disasters. NOAA Fisheries will administer the funds as delegated by the secretary of commerce and will work with the states of Alaska, California, Oregon, and the Squaxin Island Tribe for implementation.

The funds can be used to assist commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, charter businesses, shore-side infrastructure, and subsistence users, as well as other impacted community groups. Eligible funding activities include fishery-related infrastructure projects, habitat restoration, state-run vessel and fishing permit buybacks, and job retraining. Certain fishery-related businesses impacted by the disasters may be eligible for assistance from the Small Business Administration.