Shaheen Announces NH Fishermen & Seafood Industry to Receive Nearly $3 Million in Urgently Needed Assistance through December COVID-19 Relief

**Senator Shaheen helped secure this funding during negotiations for the emergency COVID-19 relief package that passed Congress and was signed into law in December** 

**This announcement is in addition to the $2.7 million for New Hampshire that Shaheen helped secure as part of the CARES Act**

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),  Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced that New Hampshire is set to receive $2,967,000 in federal grants allocated under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law in December. Specifically, the funding was awarded by NOAA and will help the state’s fishermen and seafood industry weather and recover from financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During negotiations for the emergency COVID-19 relief legislation, Shaheen successfully included language providing relief funding for American fisheries.

“Our state’s commercial fishing industry, which was already operating on razor thin margins before the pandemic, has been hard hit by this crisis. Our fishermen need relief to withstand financial losses they’ve faced over the past year and continue their integral role in New Hampshire’s economy, history and culture,” said Senator Shaheen. “That’s why securing this assistance to help our seafood industry was a top priority for me during negotiations for the December emergency relief package. As we move forward, I’ll keep fighting to make sure our fishermen have the support and resources they need.”

Shaheen has been a strong advocate for New Hampshire fishermen. As the Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen has repeatedly prevented the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from imposing the costly at-sea monitoring fee on Granite State fishermen and once again secured necessary funding to prevent the burden from being imposed on fishermen. Shaheen has also repeatedly secured funding for Northeast groundfish research and lobster research. In government funding legislation that cleared Congress and was signed into law in December, Shaheen also worked to include $6 million for Coast Guard fishing safety training and research grants. Last year, Shaheen announced $2.7 million in COVID-19 financial relief for New Hampshire fisheries that that she helped secure as part of the CARES Act.