State seeks aid for shark industry

By STEPHEN NOHLGREN, Times Staff Writer
Published February 9, 2008

State regulators offered a voice of support this week to West Florida's boutique shark industry, which has all but shut down after federal scientists declared several key species dangerously overfished.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission agreed to ask Gov. Charlie Crist to seek disaster relief for fishermen and seafood houses that caught and sold shark.

Under federal law, disaster relief typically goes to people hurt by natural disasters, like when Gulf of Mexico hurricanes destroy shrimp boats, said fish and wildlife spokesman Lee Schlesinger.

If it passes, this "disaster" declaration would involve a hardship caused by regulations.

St. Petersburg attorney G. Michael Mastry, who represents the shark industry, estimated that about 75 fishermen and a dozen seafood processors would split up about $6-million to $8-million if the request is granted.

But it's an uphill fight, Mastry acknowledged. The Department of Commerce, which issues the disaster declarations, has never granted one based on regulatory hardship. In fact, the department recently rejected a similar request from the New England ground fish industry.

Even if the Commerce Department goes along, Congress must appropriate 75 percent of the money, and Florida the other 25 percent. Given Florida's tight budget, the industry itself might chip in the state's portion, Mastry said.

"In the past, there have been some very creative ways to come up with the (state) money."

[Last modified February 8, 2008, 23:45:15]