Fishery Disaster Relief Program Struggles With Delays Despite Legislative Reform
A recently released report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), titled "Fishery Disaster Assistance: Process Is Changing, but Challenges Remain to Improve Timeliness and Communication" (GAO-25-107076), examines how the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) administers disaster assistance for fisheries impacted by environmental and economic catastrophes. The program, critical for supporting marine-dependent economies and Indigenous communities, has disbursed over $642 million since 2018. However, it often takes years for funds to reach those in need—far exceeding the newly legislated target of just over one year.
The GAO found that from January 2014 to June 2024, NMFS received 111 disaster requests, approving 94 of them. Among the 56 approved since 2018, it took a median of 3.4 years to disburse funds, with the longest case reaching nearly five years. These delays persist despite the 2022 enactment of the Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act (FRDIA), which introduced timelines and clearer definitions for eligibility and process steps. While initial indications show some time reductions in the determination phase since FRDIA’s passage, the GAO states it is too early to assess full program improvement.
Key challenges remain, including inadequate communication from NMFS and limited access to tracking systems for regional staff and stakeholders. Many requesters, including tribal entities, remain unaware of recent legislative changes or unclear on how to prepare complete applications and spend plans. Stakeholders from 9 states and multiple tribes expressed frustration over poor updates and confusing guidance, and some communities, like Saint Paul, Alaska, experienced significant economic fallout while awaiting relief.
Additionally, the report underscores staffing shortages as a bottleneck. NMFS has not conducted a full workforce assessment, and many staff work across multiple programs. With request volumes steadily rising and complexity increasing under new statutory requirements, GAO recommends that NMFS evaluate whether current staffing levels are adequate and consider extending system access and publishing clearer, more detailed public guidance.
The GAO also compared the fishery disaster program to other federal aid mechanisms, including FEMA’s flood insurance, HUD’s CDBG-DR, SBA disaster loans, and USDA crop insurance. While each has its strengths and drawbacks, the GAO suggests that NMFS may benefit from adopting best practices from these programs, especially those related to automation, transparency, and timeliness.
Ultimately, the GAO makes three recommendations: enhance transparency by sharing more detailed information with stakeholders, grant access to internal tracking systems for NMFS staff who manage the program, and assess whether staffing is sufficient to meet statutory deadlines and program needs. NMFS agreed with all three recommendations.
Disclaimer: This summary is based on GAO Report GAO-25-107076 and is intended for informational purposes only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate and does not constitute legal advice. For full details, refer to the original GAO report available at gao.gov/products/GAO-25-107076.
