Local shelling program will end soon without more funding

                The shelling program that has helped many local oystermen through a tough year will soon be coming to an end unless more money can be found.

Shelling allows oyster fishermen to improve oyster habitat by using their boats and labor to place oyster shells on the oyster reefs providing a good place for a new crop of oysters to settle and grow. 

The program was funded through a 4 and a half million dollar Federal Fishery Disaster grant.

CareerSource GulfCoast, which has overseen the shelling program, said that about 80 days of the program is done and there is probably money for about another 15 to 20 days before the funds are depleted.

The workforce board has even returned much of the money set aside for administration to pay for more shells to keep the program running longer, but it has proved to be more successful than anticipated.

Initial estimates accounted for about about 150 oystermen a day taking part in the shelling – It turns out nearly 200 people are shelling some days.

Commissioner Cheryl Sanders said it is important that the program get people through at least until the winter oyster harvesting season begins in September.

The County says it will try to find more funds to keep the program going – commissioners said the Department of Agriculture was budgeted some shelling money this year and maybe it could be diverted to Career Source to keep the shelling program running.

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