By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
“It’s not a lot, but thank god it’s there and it will help quite a bit,” said Brian Stensland.
Fishermen’s Supply owner Stensland is talking about the new grant program meant to assist New Jersey fishing businesses saddled with damages and costs left behind by Superstorm Sandy.
Owners of bait and tackle shops like Stensland can apply to the Department of Environmental Protection for grants of up to $10,000, along with commercial fishermen and dealers, for-hire party and charter boat operators, marinas and those in shell-fishing and aquaculture. The grant money is provided by NOAA as part of a federal fishery disaster declaration for states impacted by Superstorm Sandy.
“The financial loss was unbearable. We lost 90 percent of everything you see in the store,” Stensland said.
The family-run business sits along the Manasquan River in Point Pleasant Beach.
“Your insurance company doesn’t cover a storm situation like we had so we had to use available credit,” said Stensland.
Applicants must have a minimum of $5,000 in documented losses from the Superstorm, like lost or damaged fishing gear, replacement or repair of equipment or infrastructure and revenue lost in the months immediately after Sandy. That’s something party boat owner and captain Richard Falcone is all too familiar with. He lost about $50,000 in revenue right after Sandy struck.
“It would be very welcome relief, considering we lost about six weeks of fishing time, plus damage to the boat,” said Falcone, captain and owner of The Golden Eagle.
Commercial fishermen also took a significant hit.
The Point Pleasant Fisherman’s Coop shut down for six weeks after Sandy. The general manager says that resulted in about three quarters of a million dollars in lost revenue, which ultimately affected about 70 commercial fishermen.
Scalloper Arthur Ochse insists it’s critical New Jersey’s fishing industry thrives.
“I have a crew I pay, they pay taxes, they spend money and the whole shore economy suffers when people can’t work,” Ochse said.
Back at Fishermen’s Supply, sales still aren’t at pre-storm levels.
“Last year around this time we were about 15 to 20 percent off from the previous year. This year we are about 13 to 15 percent off last year,” said Stensland.
He thinks local customers are focused instead on rebuilding their own homes and lives. He’s already applied for the grant. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 31.