Apalachicola Bay oyster conservation-based changes remain through summer; include additional closures

Several oyster conservation measures implemented previously will continue in Apalachicola Bay during the summer season, June 1 through Aug. 31. These changes are effective in all of Apalachicola Bay, including all waters of Indian Lagoon in Gulf County.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began implementing conservation measures in the fall of 2012 in an effort to help the Apalachicola Bay oyster population recover from the effects of low river flow. Apalachicola Bay oyster populations have significantly declined in recent years due to lack of sufficient fresh water flows in the Apalachicola River.

The FWC will continue to assess the health of the bay.

Changes effective June 1 through Aug. 31 include:

• Commercial and recreational harvest of oysters in areas north of John Gorrie Memorial Bridge is prohibited (this change is new this year).
• Harvest or possession of oysters in or on waters taken from the Hotel Bar Experimental Area is prohibited (this change is new this year).
• Commercial and recreational harvest of oysters in the area commonly known as East Hole is prohibited.
• The daily commercial harvest and possession limit is three bags of oysters in the shell per person (each bag is equivalent to 60 pounds or two 5-gallon buckets).
• The daily recreational harvest per person, vessel and possession limit is 5 gallons of oysters in the shell.
• From June 1 through Aug. 31, commercial and recreational oyster harvest is closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

All other harvest regulations remain in effect.

To learn more about commercial oyster harvest, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Commercial” and “Oyster.”

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