Suspending Wild Oyster Harvesting

Commercial oyster harvest in pounds of shucked meat in Franklin Co. and FL from 1984 through 2019, from FWC commercial landings page

Suspending wild oyster harvesting is an essential step in protecting and restoring the health and productivity of Apalachicola Bay, which is connected to the broader watershed system, including the Apalachicola River and floodplain. Additionally, the health and productivity of this estuary and the entire system contributes to the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

In a move that has long been sought by many commercial seafood dealers and fisherman in Franklin County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will consider a proposal by FWC staff to suspend wild oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay at the commission meeting on July 22. It is not a permanent closure. Apalachicola Riverkeeper and numerous Franklin County stakeholders support this proposal.

The wild oyster population of Apalachicola Bay has been in decline for years with decreased fresh water from the Apalachicola River being a significant and driving factor. (Freshwater flows are controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers who oversee federal reservoirs on the Chattahoochee River which flows into Lake Seminole then into the Apalachicola River.) The oyster fishery has been reduced to a handful of active fishermen compared to hundreds who once worked the bay waters every day.

Oyster populations tell us much about the overall health of an estuary. Wild oysters and their reefs are a keystone species providing considerable ecosystem services, including filtering water and providing habitat for species important for the region’s economy such as red drum and blue crab.

Presently, Florida State University’s Coastal and Marine Lab is engaged in the Apalachicola Bay System Initiative (ASBI) whose mission is “to gain insight into the root causes of decline of the bay’s ecosystem and deterioration of oyster reef.” ASBI is coordinating with state agencies, such as FWC, to develop an integrated approach to oyster ecosystem restoration in the Bay.

It is vital for the recovery of oysters that the State of Florida implement such a management plan to ensure the long-term viability of important fisheries, especially the oyster industry. Let’s ensure a healthy Apalachicola Bay for decades to come. Closing the bay to wild oyster harvesting is an essential first step. Join Apalachicola Riverkeeper and others in support of this proposal.

 

Here is a link to the full agenda for the meeting.

From FWC’s website: Due to the meeting being held by video and telephonic participation, the Commission is also offering the opportunity for stakeholders to provide their comments in advance.  Advanced comments should be submitted by Friday, July 10, 2020.  Those comments can be submitted via email to [email protected]

Recent related News Stories:

WFSU FM

Apalachicola Times

Tallahassee Democrat

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top