State announces extra harvesting day for Apalachicola oysters
News Release
Friday, June 04, 2010
Media contact: David Heil (DACS), 850-488-5471; Lee Schlesinger (FWC), 850-487-0554
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services
Commissioner Charles H. Bronson and Chairman Rodney Barreto of the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced
Friday that the summer oyster harvesting areas in the Apalachicola
Bay System will now include harvest on Saturdays, giving fishermen
six days of harvesting per week.
The summer oyster areas are normally closed for
harvest on Fridays and Saturdays in June, July and August, and this
is the first time that the two agencies, which jointly manage
oyster resources in Florida, have implemented this change.
The decision to open Apalachicola Bay to oyster
harvesting on Saturdays comes a day after Bronson sent a letter to
the FWC seeking the change and in response to requests by
representatives of the oyster industry for an increase in
harvesting days.
"We are pleased to support Commissioner Bronson in
this effort to help the hard working people in Florida's oyster
industry," Barreto said.
Staff of both agencies will continue to closely
monitor Bay water quality, oyster harvest, oyster handling and
oyster processing to ensure oysters resources are protected and are
safe to consume.
"This action should be viewed by the citizens of
Florida and the United States that Gulf of Mexico seafood in
restaurants and markets is safe," Bronson said. "With demand for
safe Gulf oysters at a peak, this action will benefit both our
oyster industry and consumers alike."
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