Franklin County seeks to change summer harvesting workweek

County commissioner Bevin Putnal said he would like to see a change in the workdays during the summer oyster harvesting season. During the summer months oystermen are allowed to commercially harvest oysters from Sunday through Thursday – only recreation harvesting can take place on the other two days. Putnal said he would like the state to change the workweek to Monday through Friday to make it easier for oystermen to go to church or just spend more time with their friends and families on weekends. Putnal said the Sunday through Thursday workweek was created when local seafood houses shucked their own oysters and needed product by Monday morning – since there aren’t that many businesses that shuck anymore he feels it’s safe to make the change. The final decision will fall to the Florida Department of Agriculture which oversees oyster harvesting rules in the state.