Fishermen who were
affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita have until Monday,
Dec. 1, 2008, to submit their application for the Federal
Economic Assistance program the Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries (LDWF) announced today.
“Those fishermen,
vessel license holders, seafood dealers and charter boat fishing
guides who are eligible for the federal economic assistance
program and have yet to send in their applications should
do so right away,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham.
“We want to make sure all eligible participants apply
so as not to lose out on funding that is critical to the recovery
of the fishing industry.”
Since LDWF announced
the extension of the program in late October, 43 additional
participants have been able to submit their applications for
assistance. So far LDWF has paid out $21 million to over 4,400
applicants since the application process began in May.
LDWF sent out 9,000
information packets in May to those participants who were
determined pre-qualified for the program. This week LDWF will
mail out final reminders to eligible participants who have
yet to submit their applications for the federal economic
assistance program.
Those
who think they may be eligible and have not received an information
packet may contact South Central Planning and Development
Commission (SCPDC) at 1-800-630-3791 or 985-655-1051 (local)
or mailing SCPDC at P.O. Box 1240, Gray, LA 70359-9902 or
visiting the SCPDC Web site at www.scpdc.org/fisheriesassistance.
SCPDC and affiliated planning districts are receiving and
processing all information about this assistance program.
LDWF officials
stress that this is a deadline to apply, not the deadline
of the entire program. Fishermen, vessel license holders,
seafood dealers and charter boat fishing guides who have already
applied for the program may contact SCPDC to check on the
status of their applications.
It is estimated
that the total infrastructure and economic loss from hurricanes
Katrina and Rita in 2005 and hurricanes Gustav and Ike in
2008 totaled over $750 million. The Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries was charged with the coordination and
distribution of federal recovery funds.
