Rick's Blog Criticizes Fish Hatchery

http://ricksblog.biz/fish-hatchery-puts-to-question-the-consistency-of-haywards-economic-development-policies/

Rick Outzen criticizes the Fish Hatchery development because it uses more land than Studer's office complex and Beck Properties' development (@200 workers) that pay leases and property taxes.  The 19 Million dollar hatchery will not pay taxes and have only 19 employees.

Outzen opposes it because it is not good business sense.  I agree... to a point.

What he is not considering is that the hatchery will produce a product that will help bring tourist dollars from recreational fishing.  The decline in grass beds in our waters will probably continue and grass beds provide quality habitat for spawning and early growth of much of our seafood. If we want to have an adequate amount of seafood, I suspect a hatchery will help.

You cannot easily calculate the dollars a hatchery will generate, but I believe a hatchery is a valuable resource.  Now, there may be a better place to put one, but I suspect other locations will be objected to by nearby residents.

I think the fish hatchery is a great idea. The purpose of the BP funds is to restore the Gulf, and the hatchery will help do that.

As a community, we need to look at the long term benefits of any project that utilizes BP funds.

Are you sure the BP money is not intended to line the pockets of a few businessmen?

It seems as if Outzen is against any progress that effects Pensacola.