Oyster Harvest areas 26, 27 and 28 along the central coast of Louisiana have been re-opened by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals for the harvesting of oysters.
According to a recent release issued by the agency, “Oyster growing areas located in Oyster Harvest areas 26, 27 and 28 shell revert to their current September-October seasonal classification status effective one-hour prior to official sunrise, September 1, 2012.”
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Workers process oysters at a Louisiana seafood processing plant. Photo: Louisiana Seafood News
Hurricane Isaac did little damage west of the Atchafalaya basin where these harvest areas are located.
Oyster production in the area should be up and running within a week according to Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing board chair Harlon Pearce. “The fishing fleet and processors in that area of the state received little storm damage so there should soon be plenty of fresh seafood available to restaurants and customers,” he said.
In related news, the Louisiana state treasurer John Kennedy said the Louisiana Department of the Treasury and the State Bond Commission stand ready to work with local governments across the state needing emergency short-term financing to pay for hurricane preparation and rescue/response efforts or to jumpstart Isaac recovery efforts in anticipation of delayed federal aid.
“Our citizens don’t have time to wait to begin the difficult work of hurricane recovery,” said Kennedy. “If our local leaders want to seek short term financing while the state, FEMA and Congress engage in their usual tug-of-war over how much and when, we are ready to work with them and act quickly.”
This money could be very important to the hard hit fishing communities along the eastern coastline. Both fisherman and processors in that area of the state suffered significant damages from Hurricane Isaac. Compete evaluation of the extent of damages and effect on seafood production is still ongoing.
Friends of the Fishermen, the officially endorsed fund of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board created as way to help Louisiana’s fishermen in their time of need, has announced that it has limited funds immediately available to disperse to fisherman in extreme need. It has started a funding drive in hopes of making more money available in the immediate future.
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