Apalachicola Bay reopens for recreational and commercial oyster harvesting Jan. 1 – Feb. 28

On Jan. 1, the Apalachicola Bay will reopen through Feb. 28 for commercial Apalachicola Bay Endorsement holders and Apalachicola Bay Recreational Opportunity Permit holders. This is the first opportunity to harvest from the bay since 2020, thanks to the continued investments by the DeSantis Administration to expedite the restoration of the Apalachicola Bay Ecosystem. Over the last two decades, bay-wide declines in the oyster reef resulted in a reduction of oyster populations that led to a closure in the area in 2020. Since 2019, over $38 million has been invested in projects to expedite the restoration of a sustainable oyster industry.

At their November 2025 Commission Meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a revised oyster management plan for Apalachicola Bay and established new annual seasons based on oyster abundance. This opening is possible due to the restoration of oyster reefs in the bay.

Commercial and recreational applications for the initial 2026 harvest season were accepted Nov.10 - Dec. 16. For the Jan. 1 season, those who were approved for commercial endorsements received a share of roughly 4,700 bags available for harvest. Apalachicola Bay Recreational Opportunity Permit holders may harvest one bag for the season.

"Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new year, and a new beginning with the reopening of the Apalachicola Bay, which has served as a vital estuary for decades," said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. "We are grateful for the dedication and support provided by Governor DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, FWC Commissioners and staff, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Franklin County, the Partnership for a Resilient Apalachicola Bay, the State University System, State Agencies, oyster harvesters and other stakeholders and the local community. Everyone has worked very hard to bring back this ecologically and culturally important resource and the oyster industry that benefits the communities and the economy."

Apalachicola Bay's oyster industry has defined Franklin County and Florida's Central Panhandle for generations, both culturally and economically. Harvest from Apalachicola Bay once dominated Florida's commercial oyster fishery and represented a significant share of national wild oyster production. At its peak, Apalachicola accounted for approximately 90% of Florida's commercial oyster landings and about 10% of the commercially harvested wild oysters sold in the United States. Apalachicola oysters are an iconic, name-brand fishery.

The Apalachicola Bay oyster fishery experienced a collapse in 2013. Starting in 2013, the FWC issued 20 executive orders (EOs) to reduce harvest pressure in Apalachicola Bay in response to the collapse. An EO closed oyster harvest in the Bay in 2020, which was followed by rulemaking to implement a five-year closure beginning in 2021. This was done to give the oyster reefs time to recover from continued low abundance following the fishery's collapse. During this time, FWC initiated intensive monitoring and, along with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, undertook restoration efforts with funds provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and later by the Governor and Legislature. The restored reefs are currently the only locations in the bay with oyster abundance that can support harvest.

FWC will continue to monitor the oyster resource in Apalachicola Bay and will set harvest levels for each season based upon oyster abundance. After this Jan. 1 season concludes, the next season will be Oct. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027.

For more information on commercial oyster harvest regulations, visit:
MyFWC.com/fishing/saltwater/commercial/oysters/

For more information on recreational oyster harvest regulations, visit: MyFWC.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/shellfish/