NEW ORLEANS -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez made commercial fishermen in Texas and Louisiana eligible for federal disaster aid on Wednesday because of damage from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

His disaster declaration also made small fishing businesses in those states eligible for loans from the Small Business Administration.

“The economic impacts of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike on fishing communities in the Gulf of Mexico will hurt these communities,” Gutierrez said. “We have a lot of work to do, but this disaster determination is an important step in the recovery process.”

The Commerce Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are continuing to study the hurricanes’ effects in other states on the Gulf of Mexico, a news release said.

Louisiana landed more than 499,000 tons of fish worth $278 million last year, and Texas landed nearly 42,500 tons worth $174.3 million.

That made Louisiana’s catch about one-quarter of the total for the lower 48 states by weight, and almost 11 percent of its dollar value. Texas landings made up 2 percent of the total by weight and nearly 7 percent by value.

When Hawaii and Alaska are added in, Louisiana had nearly 11 percent of the total U.S. catch by weight, and almost 7 percent by value; Texas contributed just under 1 percent by weight and more than 4 percent by value.

“These fisheries are of great importance to Louisiana, and to the rest of the country,” U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said in a news release. “Any interruption of fishing operations along the Gulf Coast has a resounding effect at the national level and it is critical that the commercial fishing industry is provided with all the resources it needs to ensure its continued operation.”