Seafood Co-op opens in Bayou La Batre

BAYOU LA BATRE, Alabama (WALA) - Good news for one local city struggling to stay afloat after the BP Oil Spill. A new plant is opening creating and preserving jobs, while protecting the environment. By all accounts, people say it's a home run for Bayou La Batre.

Cutting the ribbon to the new Gulf Coast Agricultural and Seafood Co-Op center means cutting ties with an old habit. A habit that is costly and can be harmful to the environment. It has to do with a seafood by-product called hulls.

"They used to take hulls, bring down the end of the dead road and throw in woods. They're going to be paid for their hulls. The hulls turn into a valuable product. This plant is going to create job and bring revenue in. Wonderful day for Bayou La Batre," said Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright.

Each year, 5,800 tons of shrimp and crab waste are left over after processing. Seafood experts say it costs around $70,000 a month to have the waste hauled off to a landfill.

This is where the center will come into play. Local processors can bring the waste to the center for a less expensive cost. Officials say their goal is remove the cost all together and turn the waste into a profit.

Although the end product has not been determined yet, hulls can be used in the manufacturing of chitin. It is reported that chitin is often recommended for human burn victims. Chitin wound dressings have been used to speed healing and prevent the formation of scar tissue in burn victims.

"Economic benefit brings a lot of jobs and takes a problem from area and turns it into a viable product," said Jonathan Bonner, with the CFM Group. "Every element of the project is green."

The plant creates 17 new Alabama jobs from the start, and preserves more than 300.

The plant has been in the making since Hurricane Katrina wiped out the old one.

"Once in a lifetime experience to be a part of something like this, big for this community," said Seth Smith with White-Spunner Construction.

Bayou La Batre is now one step closer to getting back on its feet following the BP oil spill.

“Not only changing lives or economy but environment, this is state of the art program. Change the way we live and do business,” said Mayor Wright.

Funding for the center was secured by the Alabama Farmers Market Authority.

The Alabama Farmers Market Authority said the project improves the quality of life in Bayou La Batre by removing odorous wastes from the community, zero discharge of water pollutants keeping area waterways suitable for recreational benefit and employment.

“The center will run its first test load Tuesday morning,” Don Wambles, Director of the AFM said.