Apalachicola Bay Fishery Disaster Mitigation

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) & U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)

In wake of the recently declared commercial fishery failure for the oyster industry in Apalachicola Bay, and the August 13th U.S. Senate Committee field hearing held in Apalachicola by U.S. Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) concerning the "Effects of Water Flows on Apalachicola Bay”.  Both Senators has since signed off on a letter sent to the Appropriations Chairwoman Mikulski and Ranking Member Shelby emphasizing the need to fund the Fisheries Disaster Mitigation Fund in the Fiscal Year 2014, Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill. 

Oyster production in Apalachicola Bay from 2012, are estimated to be at its lowest level in 20 years, and has impacting over 2,500 jobs in the area.

The Senators letter requests specific language in the bill that would put the Apalachicola Bay declaration within a prioritized funding window.