Help offered to fishermen hurt by storms

Fishermen and wholesale/retail seafood dealers in coastal Louisiana who were active between Sept. 1, 2005, and Aug. 31, 2008, can receive reimbursement for expenses as part of a $40 million federal assistance package.

A new aid program, administered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, provides funds for the seafood industry in Louisiana affected by hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.

Dealers and fishermen do not have to show proof that their operations were damaged by the hurricanes to receive funds, but the money must be reinvested in the business, said Cullen Curole, economic developer with the South Central Planning and Development District, which is assisting Wildlife and Fisheries with the aid program.

“There is an assumption that all fishermen were affected by Gustav and Ike,” Curole said. “If they would have to provide proof of losses, it would double the amount of time administratively.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is funding the program.

To participate, licensed resident commercial fishermen and seafood dealers need to have reported sales or purchases on Department of Wildlife and Fisheries trip tickets during the three-year time period for crab, oyster, shrimp, saltwater finfish and menhaden.

If eligible, fishermen and seafood dealers will receive half the award amount after completing a form package. The other half will be provided when receipts are shown documenting funds invested in the business, Curole said.

Packets labeled “Hurricanes Gustav & Ike” were sent out last week. Forms must be returned in the business-reply envelopes included in the packets by Sept. 30.

The new funding is unrelated to another NOAA program administered by Wildlife and Fisheries earlier this year for fishermen and seafood dealers active during the same period.

To receive reimbursement, a survey has to be completed as part of a federal study on the fisheries industry.

For that program, fishermen and dealers still have until a postmarked date of June 30 to send in survey packets to South Central Planning.

In the Tri-parishes, informational meetings will be held on the new fisheries funding program at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium (728 Myrtle St.) on Saturday, June 20, from 1 to 8 p.m. and at the Larose Civic Center (307 E 5th St.) on Thursday, June 25, from 1 to 8 p.m.

For more information about the program or the sessions, call South Central Planning at 1-800-630-3791 or (985) 655-1051, or visit the agency’s Web site at www.scpdc.org/fisheriesassistance.