Secretary of Commerce Declares Fisheries Disasters in Northeast, Alaska, and Mississippi
Fishing vessels in New England.
Kodiak Harbor in Alaska.
September 13, 2012
Today, Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank issued fishery disaster determinations in the Northeast, Alaska, and in Mississippi. The declarations open the door for Congress to appropriate money towards alleviating the financial hardship caused by the disaster. If money is appropriated, NOAA will work closely with Congress and the states to develop plans to preserve coastal communities.
- Northeast – Despite fishermen’s adherence to strict catch limits, several key fish stocks in the Northeast groundfish fishery are not rebuilding and further cuts are expected in 2013. See more information below.
- Alaska - Low returns of Chinook salmon to the Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, and Cook Inlet have resulted in a fishery resource disaster have caused a continuation of the Yukon River commercial fishery failure in 2010 - 2012, a Kuskokwim River commercial fishery failure in 2011 - 2012, and a Cook Inlet commercial fishery failure in 2012. See more information below.
- Mississippi – Impacted by the massive freshwater impacts from the historic flooding in the lower Mississippi River in the spring of 2011, a commercial fishery failure has been declared for the Mississippi oyster fishery and the state’s blue crab fishery. See more information below.
