NOAA Fisheries Implemented the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act but Faces Challenges with the Pace of Funds Disbursement to Fishery Participants

For our evaluation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, also known as NOAA Fisheries) plan for the implementation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding, our objective was to determine whether NOAA complied with the requirements of the CARES Act. Specifically, we determined (1) what steps NOAA took in implementing the requirements for awarding funds, (2) challenges NOAA faced during implementation, and (3) NOAA’s current status in processing applications and award funds under the CARES Act. We found that NOAA Fisheries followed the requirements for implementing the CARES Act. NOAA Fisheries has put in place measures to mitigate challenges resulting from the review and approval process during COVID-19, and is on track to obligate all CARES Act funds before September 30, 2021. However, NOAA Fisheries still faces challenges with the pace at which funds are being disbursed to fishery participants.