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02/12/2020

What happened to the oysters in Apalachicola?

What happened to the oysters in Apalachicola?

— Because of a dwindling oyster population, a Florida agency voted unanimously Wednesday to shut down oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay through the end of 2025, dealing a blow to an area that historically produced 90% of the state’s oysters and 10% of the nation’s.

Why is Apalachicola closed?

Florida’s Oyster Central Apalachicola Bay Shut Down through 2025 due to overharvesting. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has placed a temporary ban on the harvesting of oysters out of Florida’s top producing bay through the end of 2025.

Can you get oysters in Apalachicola?

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted Wednesday to shut down oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay through the end of 2025. It’s a last-ditch effort to restore the bay’s oyster population, which has declined dramatically thanks to water flow issues and overharvesting.

Where are Apalachicola oysters from?

Florida panhandle
Apalachicola Bay—thirty miles of shallow oyster paradise on the Florida panhandle—produces 90 percent of Florida’s oysters. The best may come from Big Bayou, a remote and pristine area on the saltier western part of the bay, near Saint Vincent Island, a National Wildlife Refuge.

Are Gulf oysters safe to eat 2020?

Proper refrigeration and preparation are two simple ways we can make sure Oysters are safe to eat. Many Gulf Oysters are now bred sterile. Even if you have a condition that may make consuming Vibrio bacteria unsafe, cooking Gulf Oysters kills the bacteria, and removes the associated risks.

What months are oysters in season in Florida?

Foodie tradition dictates only eating wild oysters in months with the letter “r” – from September to April – to avoid watery shellfish, or worse, a nasty bout of food poisoning.

How did the Forgotten Coast get its name?

Franklin County Florida, also known as the Forgotten Coast, is nestled in the panhandle of the Sunshine State. This beautiful region has been dubbed the Forgotten Coast because it’s the last remaining stretch of unspoiled, pristine Gulf Coast beaches that haven’t been overrun by high rises and strip malls.

Can you find oysters in Florida?

Shellfish such as oysters, clams, scallops, and mussels can be legally harvested throughout certain coastal regions of Florida; but only oysters and clams are approved for harvesting in limited areas in Sarasota Bay, Roberts Bay North, and Lemon Bay.

Where can you catch oysters in Florida?

Shellfish Harvesting Areas

  • Western Gulf: from Pensacola Bay in Escambia County to East Bay in Bay County.
  • Central Gulf: from St.
  • Big Bend Gulf: from Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County to Citrus County.
  • Southern Gulf: from Boca Ciega Bay in Pinellas County to Ten Thousand Islands in Collier County.

Where do the best oysters come from in Florida?

Apalachicola Bay
Ninety percent of Florida’s oysters are harvested in Apalachicola Bay in Franklin County, one of the most productive, pristine estuaries in the country.

Why Apalachicola oysters are so good?

What Makes Them Special. Nutrient-rich freshwater flowing in from the Apalachicola River helps these oysters grow famously fat and sweet in the shallow, sandy-bottomed estuary, a terroir also aided by the ideal brackishness and calm that several protective barrier islands provide.

Are Gulf oysters safe to eat 2021?

Warmer water can also cause harmful bacteria to grow. Because of the risk of bacteria-infected oysters, the National Shellfish Sanitation Program has strict guidelines to ensure the oysters we eat are safe. You can enjoy oysters any time of year. And most will agree that fresh oysters from the Gulf Coast are the best.