Alaska crabbers could receive $300 million in federal disaster relief after the state suspended the 2022 harvest season for the first time in history over a rapidly declining snow crab population.
The U.S. Senate last week approved the funding for fishery disasters in a massive $1.7 trillion omnibus bill for 2023.
On Dec. 23, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo declared six fishery disasters for Alaska and Washington, marking the first step toward securing relief funding.
Jamie Goen, executive director for the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers (ABSC), a trade association representing independent crabbers, said the disaster aid package is a “great start for much-needed money to help fishermen and communities pay their bills.”…