Financial help from the federal government for crab fishermen

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a paycheck,” said Tom Hart, crab fisherman and owner of Charlie Noble.

Crab fishermen and related businesses hit hard by the delayed crab season can now apply for a working capital loan for up to $2 million dollars from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

“It keeps their businesses running so that they don’t run out of business or have to give up fishing,” said Ronald Sims with the Small Business Administration.

The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Moss Landing said so far its had a good response.

“Turnout has been good,” said Sims. “I’ve been seeing on average 10 people a day. I’ve been taking in probably three or four applications a day.”

Some fishermen said they are missing out on at least $1,000 a day.

While the loan is a nice gesture some of them are hesitant to take it.

“If you have to borrow money to get into any of the fisheries, I think you’re taking a big chance,” said Hart.

Recreational Dungeness crab fisheries are now open south of Point Reyes.

Areas opento crab fishing include:

Recreational Dungeness crab fishery along mainland coast south of 38 00? N Latitude (near Point Reyes in Marin County)

Commercial and recreational rock crab fishery along the mainland coast South of 35 40? N Latitude (Piedras Blancas Light Station)

Areas still closedto crab fishing include:

Commercial Dungeness crab fishery statewide

Recreational Dungeness crab fishery north of 38 00? N Latitude (near Point Reyes in Marin County)

Commercial and recreational rock crab fisheries north of 35 40? N Latitude (Piedras Blancas Light Station)

Commercial and recreational rock crab fisheries in state waters around San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands.

However, some fishermen feel it may not be worth going out anymore this season because the prime chance to harvest was from November to January.

“As we come into the spring time the crabs go through a molt where they shed their shells and grow new ones,” said Hart. “When they do that there is not a lot of meat in the crabs.

Crabs that look okay on the outside but are hollow inside could destroy the market and knock the price down.

“A lot of those crabs will end up in the freezer and affect the price when it opens next year in November, when we have a good price and good market,” said Hart.

On the flip side fishermen the season opening up could put money in their pockets and help shift negative perceptions of crabs because of demoic acid.

A Disaster Loan Outreach center will be open Friday in the Monterey Harbor Office from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Crab-related businesses have until November to apply for the loan.

ORIGINAL STORY: The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering crab fishermen disaster loans following the delay of the Dungeness crab season and the closure of the Rock Crab Fishery.

SBA acted under its own authority to make the low-interest federal disaster loans available to the fishermen.Gov. Jerry Brown also asked the federal government to declare a fishery disaster this week.

KION’s Maya Holmes went to Moss Landing Thursday to learn more about the program. Watch her story at 5 p.m. for more details.