MDMR holds Disaster Recovery Application meeting

BILOXI, Miss. (WXXV)- A key meeting was held in Biloxi Tuesday night, one that could bring much-needed relief to those in Mississippi’s seafood industry still feeling the impact of the 2020 Bonnet Carre Spillway opening.

Mississippi’s Department of Marine Resources held a public meeting at the Bolton Building in Biloxi to discuss recovery assistance for wild oyster and shrimp harvesters and more impacted by the 2020 Bonnet Carre Spillway disaster.

The meeting is part of the Fisheries Disaster Recovery Program, offering direct support to those affected by the freshwater intrusion.

Harvesters, dealers, and processors were in attendance to learn about eligibility and how to apply for funding. DMR Executive Director Joe Spraggins said, “Ninety percent of the product that that we were being able to be replenish and help as far as our shrimpers and our oystermen. They were the most impacted. Now, the crabbers were impacted in 2019. So, we did some work with them. So hopefully what we’re doing is going back and rebuilding that.”

Officials say the funding could be a vital lifeline for harvesters still recovering from the disaster’s impact.

Those eligible are urged to apply before the June 30 deadline. You can apply by clicking here.