State shellfish regulators from the Department of Agriculture will hold a public workshop in Franklin County this afternoon to meet with oyster harvesters and dealers to discuss possible changes to the summer oyster harvesting season. The department of Agriculture is proposing new regulations that could take effect next May designed to lower the number of illnesses caused by Vibrio Vulnificus. Some of the proposed changes include a requirement that oyster harvesting begin at sunrise during the summer months and that all product be at a licensed dealer by 10:45 in the morning. They are also considering requirements for processors to cool all oysters harvested in the summer months to 55 degrees or less within 8 hours of receiving the product. There will also be discussion about on-board cooling systems and other steps that can be taken to make warm water oysters safer for consumers. The rules have not been adopted yet and input from oyster harvesters and dealers could help the state come up with rules that are more effective and less onerous to the industry which is why they are holding the workshop today. The workshop will begin at 4 o’clock this afternoon – it will be held at the Franklin County Courthouse annex in Apalachicola.
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