County commission requests return to 7 day a week oyster harvesting

County commissioners have issued a letter to the Department of Agriculture asking that commercial oyster harvesting be re-opened 7 days a week.

The state ended 7 day a week oyster harvesting last November to protect the oyster crop in the Apalachicola Bay which has been depleted this season due to prolonged severe drought and the impacts of less fresh water from the Apalachicola River.

The county commission and the seafood workers association now believe its safe to reopen the bay to 7 day a week harvesting, because many oystermen will be taking part in a reshelling program Monday through Thursday and won’t be able to actively harvest oysters on those days.

By reopening harvesting on the weekends, oystermen will be able to supplement their incomes with the money they can earn harvesting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday without putting too much pressure on the remaining oyster population.

Commissioner Pinki Jackel, who raised the issue at Tuesday’s county commission, said she doesn’t feel the move would hurt the bay restoration.

The rest of the commission agreed and voted unanimously to request the restoration of 7 day a week harvesting.

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