FWC officer rescues five from capsized oysterboat

Fish and Wildlife Officer Travis Huckeba rescued five oystermen from the bay last week after their boat capsized in heavy waves. According to the FWC, the officer was called to a capsized commercial oyster vessel just south of the Apalachicola Bay Bridge. He arrived on scene to find the five occupants of the vessel all clinging to the side of the overturned boat. Officer Huckeba, along with another commercial harvester, helped retrieve the individuals from the water. According to the operator of the capsized vessel, the group had attempted to leave the oyster bar before the approach of a thunderstorm but the vessel was swamped by waves causing it to sink and eventually capsize. No one was injured as a result of the accident and the commercial oyster vessel was recovered.