The U.S. Department of Commerce declared a federal fisheries resource disaster for New Jersey and New York, opening the door for emergency federal funding for the region's industry. Aid could include reimbursement for losses, equipment repair and replacement, restoration of ecosystems and fisheries, and job retraining, according to an announcement of the aid.
New Jersey's $2.7 billion commercial and recreational fishing industry "is not only a defining element of the Jersey Shore and a crucial tourism draw, but is also vital and [an] essential component of New Jersey's coastal economy and invaluable recreational activity," Gov. Christie wrote in the letter requesting the declaration.