Now, we see a significant step toward that end.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has finalized a spend plan for more than $190 million in congressionally appropriated disaster funds covering the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Bristol Bay red king crab and Bering Sea snow crab fisheries.
The spend plan divvies the money among crabbers, processors, and communities. It also allocates — over the grumbles of many industry players — 12 percent of the money, or $22.5 million, to research.
Finalizing the spend plan does not mean relief checks are about to hit mailboxes. No, some additional steps remain in the process.
The spend plan has been forwarded to the Portland, Oregon-based Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission for administration.
The city of Unalaska, the main port for the crab industry, is expecting a share of up to $5.5 million, the city manager said in a recent memo.
"We are hopeful that the funds will be disbursed either in late 2024 or early 2025," the memo said.
