ADCNR MRD Accepting Applications For Cares Act Relief

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division (MRD) has begun accepting applications for funding available through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 in support of activities previously authorized under Section 12005 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The program was established to provide financial relief for losses suffered by the state’s marine fishing industry during March 1-December 31, 2020, due to the pandemic. To be eligible for the relief program, qualifying fishery-related businesses or individuals must have experienced revenue losses greater than 35% between those dates compared to the average revenue earned during March 1-December 31 in the preceding five years. Participants who have previously received CARES Act funding through Alabama’s Marine Industry Reimbursement Program are still eligible to apply but may not receive more than 100% of their total claimed loss. Only Alabama residents licensed as saltwater commercial fishermen, seafood or oyster aquaculture operators, non-retail seafood dealers or processors, live-bait dealers and for-hire vessel owners/operators are eligible to participate.