Florida to reopen bay nationally known for its oysters
[November 06, 2025] By
KATE PAYNE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — North Florida's Apalachicola Bay will reopen
for wild oyster harvesting, a move that supporters hope will breathe
life into one of the last historic working waterfronts in a state where
much of the picturesque coastline has long given way to high-rise condos
and strip mall souvenir shops.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the plan
Wednesday to reopen the bay for a limited oyster season on Jan. 1, 2026,
five years after the waters that had been nationally known for the
sweet, plump shellfish were closed because of dwindling populations.
The closure of the bay along what is known as Florida’s “Forgotten
Coast” dealt a blow to an area that historically produced 90% of the
state’s oysters and 10% of the nation’s supply.
Apalachicola oysters were iconic, comparable to Maine lobster and
Maryland blue crabs, and their loss marked another sign that a way of
life for generations of commercial fishermen is disappearing along with
their harvest.
The once-booming oyster industry is part of the lifeblood of the town of
Apalachicola, which in the 1800s became the third-largest port on the
Gulf of Mexico, trailing only New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.
Many oystermen haven't adjusted well to being forced off the water and
into “land jobs" like construction and landscaping, said Wayne Williams,
president of the area’s Seafood Work & Watermen’s Association.
“You go from a boat captain to cutting somebody’s grass. You know,
that’s a pretty big change,” Williams said.
Around the world, fish and shellfish populations have dwindled to
dangerously low levels, as one of society’s oldest occupations faces
warming seas, global appetites and overfishing.
Over the years, waves of drought and the water demands of metro Atlanta
and farmers upstream have sapped the Apalachicola River and the bay it
flows into — sparking a protracted legal fight known as the “water wars”
that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ultimately sided
with Georgia.
The decreased freshwater flows, as well as predation, overharvesting,
habitat loss and hurricanes, ultimately pushed Apalachicola oyster
production into free-fall, spurred the federal government to declare a
fishery disaster in 2013, and triggered the full closure of the bay in
2020.
Now, state regulators say populations have recovered enough to allow a
limited reopening of a small portion of the bay for commercial and
recreational harvesting, with rules set for the number and size of
oysters that can be taken and from which reefs. The initial season will
run from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, with the following seasons running each
Oct. 1 through Feb. 28.
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A freshly harvested Apalachicola Bay oyster is displayed in
Eastpoint, Fla., on March 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Phil Coale, File)
According to a Fish and Wildlife Conservation analysis, just 500 acres
of suitable potential oyster habitat remain in the bay, down from the
estimated 10,000 acres that existed historically — representing a 95%
decline.
“That ain't nothing,” said Ottice Amison, a county commissioner for
Franklin County, which includes Apalachicola. He questioned whether the
current regulations can support a livelihood — and allow for a revival
of the area's waterfront economy, from local fish houses to boatbuilders
and restaurants.
"We’d love to see it come back," he said of the bay. “But I don’t want
to see us jump the gun.”
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis applauded the reopening, pledging to
continue to invest in the bay's long-term restoration. State
conservation staff estimate they need an additional $30 million to $55
million a year to reach their recovery goals.
In setting the new rules, Florida wildlife officials gave preference to
commercial fishermen with a history of working in the bay, though they
must still apply to be able to harvest. Recreational permits will be
issued to qualifying Florida residents via lottery.
While Williams supports reopening the bay, he and hundreds of others
have signed a petition opposing the new regulations, which they consider
too restrictive..
“It's not only a job, it's what we love to do,” Williams said of
oystering, adding, “we just want to get our lives back together.”
___
Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America
Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national
service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on
undercovered issues.
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