Franklin County Commissioners worried that new summer oyster harvesting rules will hurt local harvesters

County Commissioners say new federal summer oyster harvesting rules will be another “nail in the coffin” for the local oyster industry.

Commissioners and the local oyster industry were recently made aware of stricter harvesting rules for the summer months designed to protect consumers from vibrio vulnificus.

Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring marine organism; people can get it by eating raw shellfish or by getting seawater on an open wound.

It’s harmless to most people, but can be fatal for people with certain pre-existing health issues like cancer, diabetes or cirrhosis of the liver, or any disease that weakens the immune system.

The new time and temperature rules basically require that oysters be either at the dealer or iced down by 11 AM during the summer season.

The board initially though the rules would take effect in 2016, but were told last week that they would take effect this summer.

Commission chairman William Massey said there is no way oystermen can carry enough ice on their boats to meet the cooling requirements and even if they could they couldn’t afford the amount of ice it would take.

Commissioner Smokey Parrish agreed adding that if oystermen can only start work at sunrise and have to have to their oysters at the dealer by 11, most oystermen will only be able to harvest 3 hours a day during the summer months.

The only other option is to not accept the new rules and no longer be able to sell Florida oysters out of state – and that is not going to happen.

Commissioners have agreed to request an extension for the new rules, or at least ask for some money to help cover the costs of implementing them.

Because these are federal rules required by the Food and Drug Administration commissioners said they don’t expect to get much help – but they have to try.

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