July 29, 2005
Bronson Announces Program To Aid Damaged Oyster Industry
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced the initiation of a comprehensive project to assist the oyster industry, which was damaged by Hurricane Dennis earlier this month.
“The livelihoods of our oyster harvesters, processors and dealers are at stake, and we are committed to doing all we can to help them,” Bronson said. “At the same time, the economic benefits of oyster production are substantial to the state as Apalachicola oysters are distributed not only throughout Florida but around the country.”
The hurricane impacted the oyster industry in Apalachicola Bay by battering oyster reefs, and disrupted the oyster fishery by restricting harvesting and damaging oyster processing and distribution facilities.
Bronson’s department already has reopened the summer harvesting areas of the bay following extensive testing of both the water quality and quality of the shellfish, which showed that oysters taken from those areas are safe to eat. Testing is continuing in the fall harvesting areas, which generally open in September.
Among additional efforts being undertaken:
-- The Commissioner’s Aquaculture Division is working with the Franklin County Seafood Workers Association and the Apalachicola Oyster Dealers Association on various oyster development projects in the bay. They involve relocating seed oysters (juveniles) from nursery grounds to public oyster reefs, where they will grow to market size.
-- The project will provide numerous economic benefits to the local community, as oystermen and their families will be employed in the harvesting and relocating of the seed oysters. Not only will that provide badly needed employment opportunities and provide an immediate economic boost to the community, it will result in added revenue when oysters are eventually harvested and sold to processors.
-- The department is working side-by-side with oyster processors to reopen their businesses as quickly as possible. Many already have reopened.
Bronson said his department is committed to ensuring the prosperity of the Apalachicola oyster and Florida’s oyster industry in general.
For more information:
David Heil
(850) 488-4033
heild@doacs.state.fl.us
