A second found of CARES Act money is available to fishermen on the coast that experienced COVID-related losses in 2020. The deadline to apply is November 19th.
Mississippi is scheduled to receive nearly $3 million to provide for fisheries participants meeting the threshold of economic revenue losses greater than 35% compared to the prior five-year average. The award amount for each sector will be divided evenly by the number of sector-specific applicants. This will result in all individuals in a sector receiving the same payment amount. However, no applicant will receive compensation exceeding their reported losses.
To be eligible for this program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Resident of Mississippi (out-of-state license holders must provide MS state identification in the application).
- At least 18 years of age.
- Participated in a Gulf State’s saltwater fishing industry in one of the following sectors for at least one year:
- Commercial fisherman
- Dealer/processor
- Charter For Hire captain
- Possess the appropriate MDMR resident license or out-of-state license from another for the 2019 – 2020 or 2020 – 2021 fishing year (out-of-state license holders must provide proof of license in the application).
- Experienced greater than 35% loss in revenue for January – June 2020 or July – December 2020 (See program guidelines).
- Participant must not be debarred, not on the government “do not pay list”, and in good standing with the Federal and State Government.
Participant cannot have received full compensation through receipt of these funds, funds received under CARES Act, Section 12005, any other COVID-19 related federal financial assistance, and/or any traditional revenue earned in 2020, when compared to the previous five-year average annual revenue earned
