Rubio Welcomes Disaster Assistance For Apalachicola Economic Recovery

Press Release

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today welcomed the announcement made by the U.S. Department of Commerce to allocate $6,316,533 in disaster assistance funding for the oyster fishery in Florida. On August 12, 2013, a federal fisheries disaster was declared for the oyster fishery along the northwest coast of Florida due to excessive drought conditions in Apalachicola Bay and elsewhere in the Florida Panhandle that have caused the regional economy to suffer significantly. Historically, the Apalachicola Bay region has produced 90 percent of Florida's oysters and 10 percent of the oysters supplied to the entire country.

"Today's announcement will bring much-needed relief to the small business owners and families in the Apalachicola community whose way of life depends on the health of the oyster fishery," said Senator Rubio. "Every bit of this disaster assistance will be a good first step in helping the local communities, industries and businesses severely impacted and that have suffered immense economic damage because of a preventable, man-made disaster. These small businesses and hard-working Floridians still deserve a permanent solution, and I remain committed to fixing this problem until Florida's oyster fishery is once again vibrant."

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