August 14, 2006
Bronson Announces Damage Assistance For Aquaculture Industry
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that the state is receiving nearly $3.7 million in federal funds to assist aquaculture operations that sustained damages from the 2005 hurricanes.
The money, which is Florida’s share of a larger allocation provided earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a number of Gulf states, will be available to aquaculture businesses in 36 counties that were impacted by the storms.
“I’m encouraged by the rebuilding process that already is under way in the industry, and this assistance will provide additional momentum for that effort,” Bronson said.
Florida’s nearly $100 million aquaculture industry includes tropical fish, clams, shrimp, food fish, alligators, aquatic plants, live rock, bait fish and other items. The hurricanes’ storm surge damaged clam and live rock operations while inland growers sustained damages to greenhouses, fish tanks and other infrastructure, as well as products, as a result of high winds and loss of electricity.
To qualify for assistance under the program, affected parties must meet the following requirements:
-- Be an aquaculture facility in an eligible county.
-- Possess an Aquaculture Certificate of Registration at the time that disaster declarations were issued for Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina or Wilma.
-- Have not received, and will not receive, assistance covered by other disaster programs for the same losses.
The program requires that the assistance provided to an aquaculture producer cannot exceed the amount of losses suffered from the storms, and that no individual operation can receive more than $80,000.
Eligible aquaculture operations located in the 36 counties will receive grant program application packages beginning on August 18. Damage claims will be accepted for losses involving production replacement, physical property repair/replacement, clean-up costs and other documented storm-related expenses. The eligible counties are: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Collier, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Glades, Gulf, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, St. Lucie, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton and Washington.
For more information:
Sherman Wilhelm
(850) 388-4033
wilhels@doacs.state.fl.us
