The
summer oyster harvesting season begins today but there are some strict limits
on harvesting in place again this year designed to rebuild oyster populations.
Temporary rules in effect this
summer include the continued closure of the East Hole bar to commercial or recreational
oyster harvesting.
Commercial oystermen are also
limited to 5 bags of oysters a day as opposed to 20; recreational harvesters are
limited to 5 gallons of oysters in the shell per vessel.
Commercial and Recreational oyster harvesting will not be
allowed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 1st through July 16th.
After July 16th Commercial and recreational
harvesting will be allowed on Fridays but not on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission created the rules in conjunction with the local oyster
industry to help rebuild the Apalachicola bay Oyster population which has been
severely depleted by low water flows from the Apalachicola River along with
other factors.
A federal fishery failure was
declared for the Apalachicola Bay oyster industry in 2013 because of the
declining oyster population.
The FWC will continue to assess the health of the bay to
make sure the critical natural resource is protected.
http://live.oysterradio.com/
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