March 26, 2014 — Gov. Rick Scott laid out the disbursement of $6.3 million in federal funding that was awarded to Franklin County to help bolster the Apalachicola oyster industry and workers.
Oyster growth and harvests in the area have declined in recent years due to reduced fresh water flow and salinity, over-harvesting and other factors. The drop in the oyster harvest has resulted in an economic downturn for the county and its residents who rely heavily on the commercial industry.
Scott outlined $4.5 million in re-shelling projects to improve essential seafloor habitat and provide jobs for fishermen, $415,000 to evaluate the success of shelling programs, $563,000 in vocational and educational training to improve job diversity in the area and $768,000 to revamp processing facilities that are the last stop before oysters hit the market.
The $6.3 million was approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce in February after it declared a federal fisheries disaster last summer.
In a statement, Scott said the funding was a solid step in helping to “restore the economic vitality and provide relief to the oystermen and their families who have endured such hardship.”
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