County commission provides funding to Oyster and Seafood Industry Task Force

Franklin County Commissioners have agreed to provide the Franklin County oyster and seafood industry task force with 20 thousand dollars so the group can continue to protect the local oyster industry from attacks from the US Food and Drug Administration as well as other groups. When the FDA announced in October that it would ban the sale of raw Gulf Coast oysters for much of the year beginning in 2011, the task force was instrumental in raising opposition to the plan. The group created a website with information about the Gulf Coast oyster industry and joined with other Gulf Coast seafood industry groups to lobby federal officials to oppose the ban. Task force Executive Director Kevin Begos traveled to Washington DC to lobby congressmen on behalf of the industry. Their efforts proved successful as the FDA has backed away from the proposed ban, but county officials recognize that this was just a battle and the war is still being fought. The county said the 20 thousand dollars they are providing to the task force should be used to help pay for travel as well as to help the task force continue to defend the local oyster industry on the internet and through newspaper and magazine articles. The board said it does expect something in return for the money. They said since the task force is taking public money is does make the task force an “arm of the county commission” and answerable to the board. Commissioners said they also want the task force to provide monthly updates of task force activities.

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