Despite push for fishers to apply for CARES ACT money, no funds have been paid out

Three extensions later and not one penny has been paid out to local fishermen who applied for assistance under the CARES ACT Fisheries Relief Fund. 

"What I think it is is that they're not only dealing with Guam but they're also dealing with other states and territories as well so maybe they're backed up with processing of applications," Department of Agriculture's Frank Roberto said. "But that's all on the federal commission part. We're just doing the legwork and processing the applications for them so that they can do their art and disperse the checks."


Last year the Department of Agriculture received $1 million to provide federal aid to local fishermen. They were eligible for payments ranging anywhere from $900 to $30,000 based on income loss as a result of the pandemic. Local registered fishermen were given a deadline of August 2020 to register. The initial deadline for the 814 eligible fishermen to turn in their application packets was Nov. 30, but was extended to January 2021 and now to March

31. For more information call 735-0294 you can also email fisheries@ doag.guam.gov to request an application packet.