The Massachusetts fishing industry is in line to receive millions in federal coronavirus relief dollars and in seafood purchases for people dealing with food insecurity — programs commercial fishermen hope will buoy an industry that has been hard hit by the pandemic.
“I think this is needed. I think anything is needed that will cut down the volatility to this market,” said Nick Giacalone whose seafood processing business, Fisherman’s Wharf Gloucester, hopes to the win one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture contracts to supply haddock, pollack and redfish to local nonprofits fighting hunger on the front lines.
The USDA has agreed to purchase $20 million of seafood to help support East Coast seafood producers stay in business, a decision lawmakers applauded in a letter to Senate leaders last week urging more aid for the industry.
“Fishermen are hurting. Things were already tough because of the trade war and they got a lot tougher when restaurants closed because of the pandemic. Government’s strength is measured by its ability to serve the people it represents. I hope this brings new business and peace of mind to America’s fishermen,” Rep. Seth Moulton said.
Massachusetts has $28 million in federal aid from CARES Act headed to support “fishery-related businesses” as part of $300 million in assistance to seafood producers nationwide — the third most going to any state after Alaska and Washington, President Trump’s administration announced late last week.
Seafood sales have plummeted by as much as 95% in some markets, reports show, amid a “near total shutdown” of restaurants and outlets that serve fresh seafood and the supply chain of fishermen and seafood processors has been “decimated,” lawmakers stated in their May 6 letter.
Senators are asking for at least $2 billion more in USDA seafood purchases in the next stimulus package aimed at softening the economic blow of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The seafood industry is currently facing an unprecedented collapse in demand because of the novel coronavirus,” senators wrote in their letter. “We urge you to facilitate the government purchase of seafood products that would both ensure stability in this key sector and provide healthy, domestically produced food for Americans.
Herald wire services contributed to this report.
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May 11, 2020 at 06:48AM
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Massachusetts fishing industry to receive $28 million in coronavirus relief - Boston Herald
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