In october 2019, the secretary of commerce determined that a catastrophic regional fishery disaster occurred for louisiana, mississippi, and alabama due to extreme flooding events in the gulf of mexico

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded an $8.6 million project grant to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources under the Fisheries Disaster Relief federal grant program (CFDA 11.477) to address impacts from the 2019 Gulf of Mexico fishery disaster. The funding will be used to provide direct payments and 1099 tax forms to eligible recipients affected by the unprecedented flooding into the Gulf from the Bonnet Carre Spillway opening through the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission as a sub-awardee. The period of performance is March 1, 2023 through February 28, 2024. As part of NOAA's mission to deal with commercial fishery failures resulting from natural or man-made disasters beyond fisheries managers' control, this award will deliver relief to Alabama's fishing industry and coastal communities impacted by the 2019 flooding events in the Gulf of Mexico region.

This fishery disaster was the result of extreme freshwater flooding into the gulf of mexico due to the unprecedented opening of the bonnet carre spillway in 2019. Congress appropriated funds to the alabama department of conservation and natural resources; marine resources division which will use $8,623,262 to contract with the gulf states marine fisheries commission (gsmfc) to issue checks, electronic fund transfers and IRS form 1099S to eligible recipients impacted by the disaster.