Florida Construction News staff writer
The Florida Disaster Fund is providing $1 million to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help rebuild several working waterfronts damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including those in the Big Bend.
Storms caused widespread damage to local fisheries and marine infrastructure, destroying vessels, boat ramps, cold storage facilities and aquaculture production.
“The Big Bend’s fishing industry took a direct hit from hurricanes Debby and Helene, and so did the hardworking Floridians who make their living on the water,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement. “Today’s investments will help to rebuild critical waterside infrastructure and help get Floridians in the fishing and aquaculture industries back to full operations.”
To unlock additional resources from the federal government, DeSantis requested a federal fisheries disaster declaration to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This declaration request would provide access to federal funding, subject to appropriation, for offshore, nearshore, and inshore fisheries to rebuild.DeSantis requested a similar federal fisheries disaster declaration following Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Idalia.
Governor DeSantis has also directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expedite any permits or approvals for businesses impacted on uplands or on the water to ensure the rebuilding of damaged structures is not delayed by bureaucracy.
“Governor DeSantis has a proven track record of helping communities recover quickly and rebuild fully after storms,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young. “We are grateful for his leadership and support in assisting the fishing industry as it recovers from hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.”
