No SBA loans to aquaculture

NEW ENGLAND - The first trickle of federal aid to fishermen affected by New England's largest-ever red-tide bloom will leave out at least one important local segment of the industry.

Small Business Administration regional director William Leggerio confirmed yesterday what some Wellfleet aquaculturists already suspected. ''Anyone involved in agriculture ... is not eligible for the Small Business Administration's disaster program loans,'' he said.

The SBA is the first federal agency to respond to Gov. Mitt Romney's and the Massachusetts and New England congressional delegation's pleas for help. Thousands of fishermen and aquaculturists across New England are out of work because of shellfish closures from red tide.

Red tide's Alexandrium algae produce a toxin that are concentrated in shellfish that feed on the algae.

Source: capecodonline.com