Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission has confirmed the processing of CARES Act round two funding for American Samoa could be distributed in late April or early May, 2023.

This was confirmed in a letter by Executive Director Barry Thom addressed to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Director, Taotasi Archie Soliai.

 “We recognize the importance of these funds, especially to the US territories. “We are working expeditiously to process CARES Act funding in the order in which we received final applications and as we are able to verify and review for quality control of submissions,” said Thom, in his February 21, 2023 letter.

This assistance is for commercial fishing businesses, charter/ for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations as allowable under section 12005 of the CARES Act, processors and other fishery related businesses as well as subsistence fishermen.

According to Thom, they are still in the process of reviewing and distributing funding for Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon and Washington. “We estimate that payments for American Samoa could be distributed in late April or early May, 2023.

“We understand the frustration with the timelines of the funding and are doing everything we can to issue payment as quickly as possible. “We will keep American Samoa a high priority given the impacts that are still ongoing,” said Thom.

In September 2022 the DMWR submitted Round 2 applications to the Commission outlining that American Samoa received notification of additional financial assistance available through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Section M, of $2,953,444.16 from NOAA on March 29, 2021.

 “The spend plan allocates available funds as direct payments to fishery participants in eligible sectors.

“While all sectors have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, available funds may only cover a portion of the losses incurred by affected fishery participants. Based on the CARES Act eligibility requirements, this plan identifies potential fishery participants by fisheries sector, develops a general allocation per sector and identifies details on criteria for eligibility with requirements for submission.”

 “Economic revenue losses must be “incurred,” therefore income and/or loss projections will not be accepted.

“Applicants must attest to having documentation/records to support the losses stated on the application and used as the basis for eligibility.”

Furthermore all funds are subject to federal audit; therefore, documentation/records must be maintained until Oct 31, 2026, and made available upon request by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, or the US Office of the Inspector General.