Florida
Governor Rick Scott was in Eastpoint Wednesday to meet with seafood workers and
groups that are providing assistance to many local people who are suffering
because of the poor state of the oyster crop in the Apalachicola Bay .
In
August, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a
report with bleak projections for the 2012-13 oyster harvest; reports of oyster
declines have also come in from Dixie , Levy, Wakulla and Bay counties.
When
Florida ’s oyster season opened Sept. 1, Apalachicola Bay oystermen found few harvestable
oysters and are currently having a hard time finding enough oysters to make a
living.
The
governor made a stop at the Resource Fair at the Eastpoint Firehouse, where he
met with local officials, seafood dealers and seafood harvesters and got a
firsthand account of the current status of the bay.
The
governor said through a press release that “Florida is working with the Army Corps for a long-term plan to address the
needs of Franklin County , while also helping to address short-term needs through worker
training and food banks.
He
added that “The Apalachicola Bay is critical to the State of Florida . It is home to the world’s best oysters and fisheries, and the
hardworking residents here rely on the Bay to provide for their families.
State agencies and community organizations are coming together to ensure
families in this area can get back on their feet quickly.”
The
resource Fair itself was well attended with a number of state and local groups
offering assistance to people who need it.
The
groups included Franklin ’s Promise, the health department, the literacy office, Gulf Coast State College, the department of Children and Families, and Disc Village .
There
was also food available for impacted families.
This
was the second resource fair held at the firehouse; the Governor announced
another upcoming resource fair scheduled for October 12th.
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