Department of Agriculture preparing to sell oyster harvesting licenses

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will begin selling the Apalachicola Bay Oyster Harvesting License on Friday, May 17^th.

You have to have the license to commercially harvest oysters from the

Apalachicola Bay System beginning July 1^st.

The licenses will be sold at a cost of 100 dollars for Florida residents and 500 dollars for non-residents through June 28^th.

After that there is an additional 500 dollar late fee.

The big difference this year is where you buy the license.

The Shellfish Center in Apalachicola is currently undergoing renovation and no staff are on-site.

To renew your license from May 17th through June 14th, you have to go to the temporary office in at 350 Carroll Street in Eastpoint, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

During the last two weeks of the sales period, June 17th through June 28th, license sales will be held at the old Estuarine Research Reserve building at 261 Dr. Frederick S. Humphries Street in Apalachicola.

You have to purchase the license with a check or money order made payable to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

No cash will be accepted.

The Department of Agriculture will also sell the FWC Saltwater Products License in conjunction with the Apalachicola Bay oyster harvesting

license.

You will receive your Saltwater Products License for free upon purchase of your oyster harvesting license.

If you renew your license after Friday, June 28th, you will have to pay an additional $500.00 late fee.

If you have any questions call the Department of Agriculture in Eastpoint,

Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, at 670-1114.

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