SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SCOM] — August 26, 2014 — NOAA will disburse $6,310,216 of new disaster assistance funding to help restore the oyster fishery in Apalachicola Bay Florida.
On August 12, 2013, a federal fisheries disaster was declared for the oyster fishery along the northwest coast of Florida due to excessive drought conditions in Apalachicola Bay and elsewhere in the Florida Panhandle that have caused the regional economy to suffer significantly. Historically, the Apalachicola Bay region has produced 90 percent of Florida's oysters and 10 percent of the oysters supplied to the entire country.
Senator Rubio who announced the award along with Senator Nelson said he remains committed to restoring water flows to Apalachicola Bay.
This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It has been reprinted with permission.