Florida’s aquaculture industry sustained an estimated $34.1 million in losses in Hurricane Idalia, according to a report released Tuesday by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The aquaculture estimate came a day after the department said the timber industry sustained an estimated $64 million in damage from the Aug. 30 storm, which made landfall in Taylor County before crossing other areas of rural North Florida.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said in a statement Tuesday that the aquaculture numbers “are expected to increase as farmers continue to evaluate losses.”
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The storm crossed an area with 324 aquaculture registration holders and 64 shellfish processors. Tuesday’s report said the department had received storm assessments from 296 of the registration holders and processors.
The department also said it continues to work on a “comprehensive damage assessment” to the agriculture industry from the storm.
A preliminary report released last week by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences put agricultural losses between $78.8 million and $370.9 million.
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