ADF&G opens comment on three federal fishery disaster spend plans

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is developing spend plans for three recently funded federal fishery disasters and has opened a formal comment period. Commercial fishers, Alaska Native communities, and coastal residents can weigh in before allocations are set.

The department is coordinating with NOAA Fisheries to identify funding priorities. Listening sessions are planned, though the public notice did not include specific dates, locations, or a statewide schedule. The announcement does not detail the specific disasters covered, the total dollar amounts involved, or the eligible uses for each spend plan.

Federal fishery disaster relief has a documented history of delays between congressional appropriation and money reaching fishing communities. At a June 3 hearing of the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, Rep. Val Hoyle said fishing communities were "waiting for relief for disasters that happened five years ago" and that since the current administration took office, "there has been zero actual progress in getting money out the door."