Florida opens new oyster bar in Wakulla County

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is opening a new shellfish harvesting area in Wakulla County. The new St. Marks Shellfish Harvesting Area consists of a 4,111 acre conditionally approved area and a 5,264 acre prohibited area. The St. Marks Shellfish Harvesting Area has an anticipated opening date of September 1st, as long as there isn’t too much rain around that time. The St. Marks shellfish harvesting area will be managed much like those in the Apalachicola Bay where openings and closings are based on local rainfall and river levels. Agriculture Chief Charles Bronson said “This is a positive development for oystermen in Florida. While the St. Marks Shellfish Harvesting Area is not a large area, it does provide additional oyster harvesting opportunities where none previously existed.” Copies of the map, legal description and management plan for the harvest area are available on-line at www.FloridaAquaculture.com.