Mail completed application to:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Coastal Fisheries Division
Attn: Zack Thomas
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, Texas 78744

 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Fishery Disaster Grant

 

"Application Process Is Now Closed"


The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed in the United States in January 2020. The first COVID-19 case in Texas was reported on March 4, 2020 and the commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services declared a public health disaster in Texas on March 19, 2020. By the end of March, executive orders from the governor of Texas had closed in-house dining in all restaurants and effectively disrupted the seafood supply chain and commercial fisheries across the state. With the implementation of stay-at-home recommendations and closures of hotels, tourism along the Texas coast dropped which further impacted recreational fishing and the for-hire sector.

In response, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. This economic relief package included $300 million that is being allocated to coastal states based on an allocation formula developed by NOAA Fisheries. The Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to aid commercial and charter fishery participants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Texas has been allocated almost $9 million for eligible commercial sectors.

Fishery participants include Tribes, persons, fishing communities, aquaculture businesses not otherwise eligible for assistance under part 1416 of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations for losses related to COVID-19, processors, or other fishery-related businesses, who meet the qualifying criteria.

To receive payment, the applicant must:

The application deadline is March 18, 2021. You may submit your application online or through the mail.

Applications are also available in Vietnamese and Spanish upon request.

How to Apply

Be sure to have all required items ready and available for the application process

 

Contact for Each Application Type

For-Hire License Application: Zack Thomas; Work: 512-389-8448
Commercial Fishermen and Vessel Application: Cindy Bohannon; Work: 281-534-0117; Cell: 832-720-2102
Commercial Wholesale and Bait Dealer Application: Justin Esslinger; Work: 361-729-2328; Cell: 361-813-2835

 

For more information about how the CARES Act Fisheries Disaster fund is being used in Texas,
read the Texas Care Act Spend Plan
. (Word Document)

 

 



Mail completed paper application to:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Coastal Fisheries Division
Attn: Zach Thomas
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, Texas 78744