Wakulla’s Commercial Fishermen Seek County Commission Support for Regulatory “Fairness” from State Agencies to Save Their Industry

     The Wakulla Commercial Fishermen’s Association is seeking support from Wakulla County commissioners on Jan. 19, for fairness from state regulators who impose stricter limits on Wakulla commercial fishing while relaxing regulations in neighboring Franklin County.

     “Wakulla’s commercial fishermen can’t compete with Franklin County as long as the state closes our waters while keeping Franklin’s open,” said Keith Ward, president of the Wakulla Commercial Fishermen’s Association (WCFA). “This unexplained unfair treatment makes our commercial fishermen’s struggle to make a living even harder.”

     A prime example of unfairness, Ward said, is at the mouth of Ochlockonee Bay where the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission enforces orders from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services  to close waters for oyster harvesting on the Wakulla County side of the bay while keeping waters open on Franklin County’s side of the bay.

     “There’s no reasonable explanation for this,” Ward said.  “In addition, during months when harvesting oysters is prohibited, the state lifts the ban at the mouth of the Apalachicola River so that Franklin County oystermen can make a living.

     “We have to make a living, too,” Ward said. 

     Wakulla fishermen also point out that state regulators tell them the water must be tested before the bans can be lifted, but the water is seldom tested.

     “If the state wants to say we can’t fish because the water is contaminated, then they need to test the water and show that it is contaminated,” Ward said.

     Other areas viewed as unfairly closed for harvesting oysters in Wakulla County are Old Creek, Purify, the mouth of St. Marks River, Airplane Creek, Elmer’s Cove, Gray’s Creek, Shepherd Springs and the basin of Wakulla Beach.

     Closures for shrimping include Wakulla waters at Patty’s Island, Horseshoe Reef, Shell Point Reef and Old Zorie, while Franklin County waters are open.

     At the Jan. 19 workshop, WCFA members also plan to ask commissioners to address problems created by the location of submerged land leases for oyster aquaculture. The oyster leases, approved by the Florida Cabinet in 2014, hinder crabbing and mullet fishing off Hopkins Island and Spanish Channel where commercial fishermen have worked for generations.

     “How can we survive when we’re not included in decisions that affect our livelihood and the economy of this county,” Ward said.

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