The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $2,601,275 in assistance for Ohio fisheries. The funding follows a bipartisan Senate and House Great Lakes Task Forces request for Congress to provide emergency pandemic funding for tribal, commercial, charter and recreational fisheries in the Great Lakes.

Previous emergency packages, like the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), have provided money to help fisheries across the country. The law, however, has been interpreted so that fisheries in the Great Lakes basin do not qualify for assistance.

“Lake Erie is one of Ohio’s most important natural resources and we must do all we can to keep it healthy for the families, boaters and anglers who use the lake every day,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown. “I’m glad to see the administration stepping up to make sure the Great Lakes are supported during emergencies.”

The funding comes as part of $15 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to Great Lakes states with coastal fishery participants for activities previously authorized under Section 12005 of CARES Act.