VMRC COVID-19 Fisheries Disaster Relief Information

April 11, 2022: Press Release - The application period is open for the Virginia’s 2022 Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program: The open application period for the Virginia 2022 Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program begins today, April 11, 2022 and will continue through May 30, 2022.

Press Release- March 29, 2022 4:00 PM, Covid-19 will hold an electronic meeting. Participation Instructions. WebEx link.

Press Release- March 22, 2022: Application Dates and Meeting Announcement for Virginia’s 2022 Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program:

The Virginia 2022 Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program will begin accepting applications April 11, 2022 and continue through May 27, 2022. A public meeting will be held Tuesday, March 29th (in person and virtual) at 4:00 pm at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to provide an overview of the application process and documentation. A recording of the presentation will be available after the meeting.

This program is intended to help defray costs incurred by seafood processing facilities and processing vessels preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is funded by the Pandemic Assistance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Expected beneficiaries include seafood processing facilities and vessels, including at-sea processors or dealers. Processor is defined as the owner, operator, dealer, or agent responsible for any activity that changes the physical condition of a fisheries resource suitable for human consumption, retail sale, industrial uses, or long-term storage, including cooking, canning, smoking, salting, drying, shucking, filleting, freezing, or rendering into meal or oil. Any owner, operator, dealer, or agent exclusively gutting, gilling, heading, or icing seafood without performing any of the above activities is not considered a processor.

For additional questions, please contact the VMRC at covid19relief@mrc.virginia.gov or by calling 757.247.2200, option 5.

PRESS RELEASE -- February 18, 2022: Virginia’s 2022 Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program Award

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) has been awarded a grant of $1,853,268 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program (SPRS) to support seafood processors, processing facilities, and processing vessels.

The grant funding will help defray costs incurred by seafood processing facilities and processing vessels preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is funded by the Pandemic Assistance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Expected beneficiaries include seafood processing facilities and vessels, including at-sea processors or dealers. Processor is defined as the owner, operator, dealer, or agent responsible for any activity that changes the physical condition of a fisheries resource suitable for human consumption, retail sale, industrial uses, or long-term storage, including cooking, canning, smoking, salting, drying, shucking, filleting, freezing, or rendering into meal or oil. Any owner, operator, dealer, or agent exclusively gutting, gilling, heading, or icing seafood without performing any of the above activities is not considered a processor.

The VMRC will announce details and application instructions in the coming weeks. The application submission period is expected to be open during April and May of 2022. Further details will be available and announced soon on the agency webpage and social media.

Quick Links:  [   Virginia's 2021 Disaster Relief Spend Plan ]

September 30, 2021: The application period for 2021 COVID Fisheries Disaster Relief closes today, Thursday, 9/30/21 at 5PM.

PRESS RELEASE -- August 12, 2021: Virginia’s 2021 Fisheries Disaster Relief Program Application Period starts August 23, 2021

Virginia’s spending plan for the 2021 Fisheries Disaster relief program is approved. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has officially reviewed and approved Virginia’s spend plan to distribute fisheries disaster relief funding related to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The VMRC is pleased to announce that the application process for the 2021 Fisheries Disaster Relief Program will open Monday August 23, 2021 and will run through Thursday, September 30, 2021. The VMRC will contact individuals who participate in the Virginia seafood industry and may be eligible based on licensing and reported activity.

For additional questions about the Disaster Relief Program, call 757-247-200 (option 5), or email covid19relief@mrc.virginia.gov.

June 10, 2021: The Draft Spend Plan for the 2021 Virginia Fisheries Disaster Relief Program is now available for review. The spend plan is the funding proposal on how to manage applications and funding for the 2021 disaster relief program and must be approved by NOAA before any action may be taken. Once approved, VMRC will distribute information on how and when industry members may apply. No action is necessary at this time for interested applicants. Please provide any comments to covid19relief@mrc.virginia.gov no later than June 25th, 2021. [Draft Spend Plan]

PRESS RELEASE (March 31, 2021): NOAA Announces State-Specific Fisheries Disaster Relief Allocations from the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2021

On March 29, 2021 NOAA Fisheries announced the allocation of $255 million in fisheries assistance to states and territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. These funds are provided as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

The Virginia-specific portion of this fisheries assistance $3.7 million. The VMRC recognizes the total funding allocation falls significantly short of addressing the devastating impacts that COVID-19 has had on the vast and diverse fishing community in Virginia. The Agency will work diligently to distribute the allotment of disaster relief funds and will seek public comment on the next draft spend plan.

At this time, no specific action is needed for those in Virginia’s fishing industries who are interested in applying for assistance. The VMRC expects this process to take several months. Details about eligibility and the application process will be emailed and posted to the VMRC COVID-19 Disaster Relief page and the agency’s social media when available.

If you have additional questions please email covid19relief@mrc.virginia.gov or call 757-247-2200, Option #5.

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March 23, 2021: Virginia has fully distributed all of the funds from the first round of disaster relief from the 2020 Cares Act Disaster Relief Program.

In December 2020, a second major COVID relief package was signed. At this time, Virginia does not know how much funding will be allocated to the state nor when we will receive the funding. This page will be updated as soon as new information is received. All available details on the second relief package are below.

What’s Next?

In the meantime, it is highly recommended all those in Virginia’s fishing industries interested in applying for assistance make sure their commercial licenses, mandatory harvest reports, mailing address, email and phone numbers are up to date with the Commission. In addition, begin gather the necessary documentations of evidence of your participation in Virginia’s fisheries in 2020 along with losses relative to up to the five most recent years. Any documents must have your full name to be valid. By preparing your documents in advance it will make the application process easier for you and allow staff to efficiently expedite to funds. We will provide updates on this second round of assistance on our website, Facebook, and via emails. It will be the responsibility of the individual to check the sites listed below for updates and deadlines.

Second Relief Package:

On December 28, 2020, H.R. 133 was signed – part of which included a second major COVID relief package. This package includes a second round of Fishery Disaster Assistance. Division “M” of H.R. 133, “Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021” includes $300M in new funding for “Assistance to Fishery Participants.” H.R. 133 includes the following guidance for the additional funding:

• Each coastal state and territory shall receive at least 1% of $300,000,000. A state or territory’s total receipts, including previous Section 12005 funds, may not exceed its total annual average revenue from commercial fishing operations, aquaculture firms, the seafood supply chain, and charter fishing businesses.

• The bill does not alter the 35% revenue loss threshold.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) will be responsible for allocating and distributing these funds to the states and territories. There have been very few updates on how to proceed with these funds from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, due in part to the change in administration of the executive branch and changes to administrative leadership at NMFS. It is hoped once NOAA Fisheries proceeds with the funding the process will be quicker than the first round of funding given the infrastructure that has been created for support.

The procedure will be similar as the first relief funding: Workgroup, Preliminary Spending Plan; Public Hearings; Approval of Spending Plan; Implement application: Distribution of Funds; and Appeals.

If you have additional questions please email covid19relief@mrc.virginia.gov or call: 757-247-2200, Option #5