Covid Relief Fund For Delaware Saltwater Fishing Businesses - The Fisherman

Covid Relief Fund For Delaware Saltwater Fishing Businesses

Delaware saltwater fishery-related businesses that suffered severe revenue declines in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) for financial relief through March 17, 2022.

Delaware was awarded $2,959,612 of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, (CAPA) funds to provide financial relief to fishery-related businesses that had a greater than 35% decline in net revenue during the March 1 through December 31, 2020 COVID-19 impact period compared to historic average net revenue.

Delaware saltwater fishery-related businesses eligible to apply for these CAPA funds are:

  • For-hire recreational fishing (includes charter and head boats)
  • Bait and tackle shops (revenue must come from the sale of saltwater bait and tackle, and 75% of the shop’s revenue must come from those sources)
  • Commercial fishing
  • Shellfish aquaculture
  • Seafood dealers
  • Seafood processors

Eligible businesses can apply to DNREC for the funding by completing an affidavit on which the applicant will self-certify the business’s net revenue decline. An eligible business must demonstrate on the self-certification affidavit that its net revenue during the 2020 COVID-19 impact period decreased by more than 35% compared to the business’s average annual net revenue during 2015 through 2019.

The CAPA application affidavit and additional CAPA information are available via de.gov/commfish or by calling the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

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