Fishermen oystering in Apalachicola Bay. Photo: Stan Kirkland/Florida Wildlife Commission
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
Four funds aimed at helping Apalachicola Bay communities that produce 85% of Florida oysters recover from the collapse of the oyster harvesting industry have been announced.
Florida Governor Rick Scott announced the projects that he is recommending to receive disaster assistance funding. Last month the governor announced the awarded $6.3 million in disaster assistance funding following his request for a commercial fishery failure.
According to Bob Jones, chairman of Florida based Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation; the federal aid needs to be supplement with more fresh water from Florida’s rivers. Photo: G&SAFF
“I am excited to recommend these projects that will share $6.3 million to help restore economic vitality and provide relief to the oystermen and their families who have endured such hardship in the Apalachicola Bay area,” said Scott. “ In addition to bolstering their industry, this funding will be used to provide vocational and educational training for oystermen and their families so they are able to support their families for generations to come.”
According to Bob Jones, chairman of Florida based Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation; the federal aid needs to be supplement with more fresh water from Florida’s rivers.
“With this generous federal aid and the hope of getting more freshwater from the north, our Apalachicola Bay oyster industry can maintain its status as producing one of the best tasting oysters on the planet,” he said. “”The job-protecting recommendations by Governor Scott to the Apalachicola Bay oyster industry will succeed if there are continuous law enforcement efforts to prevent illegal harvesting, either from closed areas or taking undersized oysters.
The projects are focused on four areas and are subject to final approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They are:
- $4,569,767 for Apalachicola Bay Habitat Improvement. Apalachicola Bay will be reshelled, a process of adding oyster shells to existing oyster reefs and a typical habitat improvement technique. Young oyster larvae need a hard surface onto which to settle after they are spawned. Hiring fishermen to conduct shelling operations also produces economic activity across a larger portion of the community than barge shelling.
- $415,473 for Monitoring of the Wild Apalachicola Bay Oyster Population. The oyster population will be monitored to help evaluate the success of shelling programs, and so that the fishery can be adaptively managed as the oyster population recovers.
- $563,233 for Vocational and Educational Training for Apalachicola Bay Oyster Industry Workers. Vocational and educational training will be conducted so those in the oyster industry can have a greater diversity of job opportunities.
- $768,060 for Apalachicola Bay Processor Facilities Upgrades. Upgrades in processing facilities for the oyster industry to remain viable. Cost reimbursement agreements (in whole or in part) will be made with wholesale dealers to make these improvements, based on losses incurred during the disaster.
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