Program Description

The Fisheries Finance Program (FFP) is a direct government loan program that provides long term financing for the cost of construction or reconstruction of fishing vessels, fisheries facilities, aquacultural facilities and individual fishing quota in the Northwest Halibut/Sablefish and Alaskan Crab Fisheries.

Program Requirements

To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be an aquaculture operator or fisherman and a U.S. citizen. You must also meet all of the following:

  • Have good credit and earnings record, net worth, and liquidity behind the project, and
  • Project must be fully secured with your assets, including personal guarantees (non-recourse credit is not available), and
  • Have at least a three-year history of owning or operating the fisheries project which will be the subject of your proposed application, or a three-year history owning or operating a comparable project.

Application Process

Contact your regional Financial Services Branch and discuss your project:

Southeast Financial Services Branch
St. Petersburg, FL 727-824-5377

Northeast Financial Services Branch
Gloucester, MA 978-281-9203

Northwest Financial Services Branch
Seattle, WA 206-526-6122

If after discussing your proposal it appears to meet the program's requirements, you will be sent an application form to complete and submit along with a one-time filing/commitment fee equal to half of one percent of your proposed loan amount.

Loan Terms

Long term, fixed rate loans with interest rates of two percent over the U.S. Department of the Treasury's cost of funds. Loan maturities up to 25 years, but not exceeding the economic useful life of your project.

Contact Information

For more information, visit the Fisheries Finance Program page.

You may also write to:
Financial Services Division
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Additional Information

Additional Information
Max Loan Lengthup to 25 years
Interest RateFixed
Max Loan AmountLoan authority determined annually
Payment FrequencyQuarterly
Prepayment PenaltiesNone
FeesApplication Fee .5% of loan amt.
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