The Seafood Trade Relief Assistance Program (STRP) provides direct payments to eligible commercial fishermen, but the deadline to apply is nearing. Through the program,the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing relief to commercial fishermen in response to trade disruptions by foreign governments that have affected seafood commodities.
Payments are not loans and do not have to be repaid (unless there is error or fraud). Payments are not withheld to satisfy prior USDA debts nor offset by Treasury. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce, told Southeast AgNet this program is quite a bit different from programs they typically administer at FSA.
Fishermen do not need to be USDA customers to apply. Those eligible to apply include Commercial fishermen who were in business at the time of application. Fishermen with a federal or state license or permit to commercially catch and sell/transfer fish. Fishermen who have ownership interest in seafood production (landings) reported as U.S. caught and sold in calendar year 2019.
Applicants are to submit one CCC-916 2020 Seafood Trade Relief Program (STRP) Application to anyFSA office by any of the following methods: in person, by mail, electronically, fax or e-mail or by using Box + OneSpan.
The signup started back in September, but the deadline to submit applications is December 14, 2020. For more information contact your localFSA County Office or go to this website, farmers.gov.