Department of Ag plans to open more of the Apalachicola Bay to oyster farming

The Department of Agriculture is moving forward with a plan to expand oyster aquaculture in the Apalachicola bay.

County extension Agent Bill Mahan said the Department of Agriculture plans to make a request to approve oyster aquaculture leases at a number of sites around the Apalachicola Bay.

Those sites include areas off of Highway 65, SGI Unit 4, Four Mile & Nine Mile.

All of the sites were once designated for aquaculture but were never used.

The areas would be split into one-hundred 2 acre leases.

Local seafood workers association president Shannon Hartsfield said there are a lot of issues with the proposed locations, not least of which is that many of the area go dry on very low tides.

They are also concerned about the impacts opening the entire water column to aquaculture will have not only to boaters, but also on the safety of the oysters during the warm summer months when Vibrio becomes a bigger issue.

Vibrio thrives in warmer temperatures, and the top of the water column will be much warmer during the summer months.

Mister Hartsfield said the seafood workers association has not issued an official opinion on the proposal and are still working to have their questions answered.

The first oyster aquaculture operation in Franklin County was recently approved by the governor and cabinet for Alligator Harbor – that was done over the concerns of the Franklin County Commission.

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