Steve Southerland Cheers NOAA Funds Going to Apalachicola Oyster Fishing

U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., cheered Mondays news that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will send $6.3 million in disaster assistance to Apalachicola Bays oyster fishing industry which has dropped 60 percent in the last two years.

I am thrilled that these relief funds are now on their way to helping the hard-working people who rely on Apalachicola Bay, said Southerland. While these resources represent an important victory, more must be done to save this cherished community. I look forward to building off todays news and continuing our fight to restore Apalachicolas oyster industry.

The funds will be released later this week, with $2.8 million going for shelling by oystermen and $1.75 million for shelling by barge. The state Fish and Wildlife Service will get $415,000 to monitor the bay while $770,000 will go toward updating facilities and $540,000 for education and training.