Fisheries losses from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are expected
to total over $2 billion over the next 12 months. Nearly
30,000 fisheries-related jobs will likely be affected. Docks
and marinas, lodging, fuel and ice facilities, fish processors,
bait suppliers and most other services have been impacted.
Direct loss of larger, non-trailerable boats was nearly
100 percent in some areas.
And
while few marine fish were killed outright, thousand of
acres of highly productive marsh “nursery” habitat
were permanently lost. Inland fish kills are widespread
in swamps, bayous and lakes raked by Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita. It may be years before the full extent of the
damage from these storms is known. In the meantime, coastal
residents are in the process of finding out what their options
may be for getting back in business and back into homes
and communities.
The Department of Commerce has declared the Gulf of Mexico
a “fishery failure.” This means that the secretary
of commerce can request federal relief funds from Congress
and make those funds available to the affected Gulf states.
The federal share of the cost of the relief activity is
75 percent, and the state will have to match the remaining
25 percent. Generally, the state participation is non-monetary.
Once funds are appropriated, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), a branch of the U.S. Department of
Commerce, will provide various entities with information
on how to apply for relief. Eligibility for assistance includes
fishermen, state and local governments and non-profit organizations.
For more information visit: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/grants/fda.htm
Homeowners and operators of fisheries-related businesses
should remember that, in addition to insurance claims and
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) assistance,
the Small Business Administration is making loans for recovery.
Visit /www.sba.gov/disaster/
or www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/FACTSHEET_Hurricanes
KatrinaRitaLATX.pdf for more
information. Home loans are limited to $200,000 for real
estate and $40,000 for personal property. Business loans
and economic injury disaster loans are limited to $1.5 million.
These loans can only be made to replace uninsured property.
Deadlines for filing the applications are:
Katrina physical damage: Oct. 28, 2005; economic injury:
May 29, 2006
Rita physical damage: Nov. 23, 2005; economic injury: June
26, 2006
Boat
owners should register with FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 to start
the process.
Disaster loan application forms are available at:
www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/loaninfo/dloanassit.html.
Other
disaster relief information relevant to fishing businesses
is available from NOAA at www.commerce.gov/Katrina/.
Fishermen
can keep up with fisheries news and regulations at: /www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=13
Pollution
from oil spills and residential and industrial drainage
after the storm can also be expected to cause aquatic habitat
damage and localized loss of fish populations. While contamination
of fish and shrimp that are consumed is less likely, fishermen
and consumers can check for advisories at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsdisas2.html
or www.cfsan.fda.gov.
Keep up with all the information on post-hurricane water
quality at http://www.deq.state.la.us.
Anyone
who lost a boat in the storm should fax the Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDFW) at 225/763-5421 a copy
of their driver's license and a request to flag their boat
LA# ______ as missing due to Katrina or Rita. Information
about lost boats also can be found at: www.wlf.louisiana.gov/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=1380
Everyone
should also be aware that “found” boats can
never be registered.
Louisiana
Sea Grant’s page of frequently asked questions about
hurricane impacts to fisheries and coastal infrastructure
can be found at www.laseagrant.org/hurricane/index.htm
Information
about relief for aquaculture operations can be found at
http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/nap.htm
In addition
to other FEMA relief programs, be aware the unemployment
payments for up to 26 weeks may be available for workers
who temporarily lost their jobs. For information, visit
www.fema.gov/.
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