Galveston County Judge Mark Henry has issued a disaster declaration for Galveston Bay’s oyster industry, after a second consecutive year of crops being devastated by freshwater runoff from excessive rains. The declaration is the first step in helping oyster business owners – and the fishermen who work for them – get financial assistance from the state and federal government.
But after a long sequence of disasters – like Hurricane Ike, algae, red tide and drought – will the industry survive?
Paige Phelps visited Galveston and San Leon to find out, and she spoke with Judge Henry and Raz Halili of Prestige Oysters.
(Above: Oysters harvested from Galveston Bay, shown on June 23, 2016. Photo: Paige Phelps, Houston Public Media)
MORE: Galveston County Declares Oyster Disaster (Houston Chronicle, June 14, 2016)