Fla. gov. trying to save dying oyster industry
By: GARY FINEOUT, Associated Press
EASTPOINT, Fla. -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott says the state's oyster industry appears near collapse and needs help to survive. He says that includes getting more fresh water coming into Apalachicola Bay from Georgia.
Scott spent Wednesday afternoon meeting with Franklin County residents and local officials struggling to keep the industry afloat.
Drought and a lack of enough fresh water coming down the Apalachicola River are impacting oysters in the bay. Florida has battled for years over the amount of water coming downstream from Georgia.
The governor said he plans to look into possible ways to aid the oyster industry. That includes more dredging, spreading shells on the floor of the bay and even filling in a channel.
Rick Scott says the state's oyster industry appears near collapse and needs help to survive. He says that includes getting more fresh water coming into Apalachicola Bay from Georgia. Florida has battled for years over the amount of water coming downstream from Georgia.