[StBernard] Essential Ice Making Capacity Restored to La. Gulf Coast

[Westley Annis]

Essential Ice Making Capacity Restored to La. Gulf Coast 
--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shell Oil Company: 

    In First Tangible Sign of Recovery in a Year, La. Fishers Take
Delivery of Industrial Ice Machine; Governor Blanco & Secretary of La.
        Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries Landreneau Mark Occasion

Who:    Governor Kathleen Blanco
        Secretary of La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries Dwight 
        Landreneau
        Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board
        Shell Oil Company 
        Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

What:   Press Conference 
        Celebration of Ice for the Beginning of White Shrimp Season

When:   Wednesday, August 23
        2:30 PM

Where:  4000 block of Paris Road
        Chalmette
        St. Bernard Parish "Barn" for parish vehicles
        *  map and directions available *

Why:

The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 caused $1 billion worth of
infrastructure damage to the $2.3 billion Louisiana fishing industry.
The Louisiana coast is home to three of the ten largest U.S. fishing
docks, yet, no federal funds had made it to the industry. The
storm-related destruction of ice-making and ice storage capacity has
been a significant obstacle to re-starting operations. Ice is used to
preserve the catch on the boats, at shore side facilities, and during
transport of product to market, yet the current ice-making capacity
for 100 miles of shoreline is virtually non-existent.

Shell has worked with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing
Board, the LSU Ag Center, the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, and
the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Foundation to facilitate the
donation of icehouses to serve St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Orleans and
St. Tammany Parishes in the eastern part of the state and Cameron
Parish in the west. The $500,000 donation will enable the purchase,
delivery and installation of industrial ice machines and ice storage
bins.