Marine Fisheries Relief Program

DEC utilizes and administers various relief funding programs available to New York State fishing industries. Relief funding is intended to supplement and support the state's seafood and commercial fishing industries and recreational for-hire fishing fleets that have endured significant economic loss or hardships. 

• Open Relief Programs
• Closed Relief Programs 

Open Relief Programs

USDA Seafood Processors Pandemic Response Grant

The application period is closed.

DEC has been awarded $200,000 in federal funding available from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety (SPRS) Block Grant Program. This grant funding will provide New York State licensed seafood dealers and processors the opportunity to recover some costs incurred for measures implemented to protect workers against COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Each processing facility or processing vessel may apply separately for funding. Processors may only apply once for each location or vessel. 

The USDA has determined expenses from the following outcomes and activities are eligible for funding through this grant application:

• Workplace Safety Measures: Workplace safety measures, including, but not limited to, personal protective equipment, sanitizer, hand washing stations, air filters, thermometers, cleaning supplies, or similar items.
• Market Pivots: Market pivots such as transition to virtual/online sales costs (online platform development and fees, online marketing, credit card processing fees), supplies, new signage.
• Retrofitting Facilities: Retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety (retrofitting harvester vessels for onboard vessel processing to maximize open-air activities, plexiglass, walk up windows, heat lamps, fans, tents, propane, weights, tables, chairs).
• Transportation: Additional transportation costs incurred to maintain social distancing.
• Worker Housing: Additional worker housing costs incurred to maintain social distancing or to allow for quarantining of new or exposed employees.
• Medical: Unreimbursed costs associated with providing or enabling vaccinations, testing, or healthcare treatment of infected employees, including any paid leave.

DEC has determined that applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for grant funding: 

1. Have held at least one of the DEC issued seafood dealer or processor permits listed below in 2020 or 2021. 
   • Food Fish and Crustacea (FF&C) Dealers and Shippers License
   • Shellfish Shippers (Class A) 
   • Shellfish Processors Permit (Class B) 
   • Shellfish Re-shippers Permits (Class C)
   • Shellfish Digger/Shippers Permit (Class D) 
   • Bay Scallop Shucker/Packer Permit (Class E)
2. Have held at least one of the permits listed above in 2023 or have applied for one of these licenses no later than Friday, March 22, 2024.
3. Incurred eligible costs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and/or 2021.
4. Submitted a completed application form and self-certification affirmation below by May 15, 2024.

Award amounts will be dependent on the number of approved grant applicants.

How to Apply for SPRS Grant Funding

The New York State application period for the USDA SPRS grant began on April 1, 2024, and ended on May 15, 2024. Applications post marked or received electronically after May 15, 2024 will not be considered for an award.

Eligible New York State licensed seafood dealers and processors may be required to provide records of eligible costs. Please be aware: DEC or USDA may request proof of eligible costs at any time. Applicants must maintain and make available upon request documentation for all claimed costs. Do not include any receipts or bills with the application for grant funds. Grant funds received may be taxable.

The application period is now closed.

The deadline for submitting completed applications was May 15, 2024. Applications post marked or received after that date are not being considered for an award. 

Applicants will be notified if their application is incomplete or incorrect. Incomplete or incorrect applications will be returned to the applicant for completion or correction, as necessary. All returned applications must be completed and resubmitted by the date given in the notice of incomplete/incorrect application. Any documentation received after the date specified will not be considered and the application will be deemed ineligible. 

For additional information, visit the USDA SPRS webpage.

For other marine and saltwater fisheries information, visit DEC’s website.

Closed Relief Programs

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA)

New York State received $6.9 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) to assist New York's marine fishing industry following extensive economic losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. DEC’s Marine Fisheries Relief Program provided relief to New York State seafood, commercial marine fishing, marine aquaculture, and marine recreational for-hire fishing businesses for revenue loss from fishery-related revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) 2020

New York State received $7.4 million in funding for marine fishery industries impacted by closures and lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, for a total of $14.3 million in aid for New York's seafood, marine commercial, and for-hire fishing industries after excessive business losses in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.