April 23, 2020 — The Florida fishing industry has been smacked hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 is the latest in a wave of major impacts on the $1.7 billion economic mainstay.
Tom Hill, owner and manager of the Key Largo Fisheries says, “The effect of Irma here and Michael up north and down here dealing with an algae bloom, as well as, the red tide.”
“Hurricanes you can wrap your head around, but the coronavirus is the silent hurricane.”
The fish wholesale and retail business is in flux as consumers shy away from perishables.
“…Have lost their ability to sell the fish to fishing houses, processors because they have no idea where to go to sell the stuff,” Hill says.
Those dealing within the Florida lobster business still have lobsters in tanks.