Apalachicola Bay

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved a management plan for a partial re-opening for wild oyster harvesting at the beginning of January

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is moving forward with partially reopening the Apalachicola Bay for wild oyster harvesting.

The Florida Legislature has approved a bill that prevents oil drilling near the Apalachicola River and Bay.

Saying the Florida Department of Environmental Protection did not adequately consider the sensitive nature of the area, an administrative law judge Monday said the state should reject a permit to drill for oil near the Apalachicola River.

While oyster harvesting there was halted in 2020, officials say reviving the industry would help the area's economy. It could resume early next year.

The citizen group Apalachicola Riverkeeper has challenged the Department of Environmental Protection to prevent drilling in the floodplain.

"We’ve got to fight to do everything we can to protect it.”

The proposed site is surrounded by the Apalachicola River, the Chipola River, and Dead Lakes. The Kleinfelder company wants to use a well that’s already there to drill through the Floridan aquifer in search of oil.

Apalachicola Bay's wild oysters are showing signs they could rebound after years of decline. But the oyster's recovery is still fragile.