Florida shuts down bay known nationally for its oysters A Florida agency voted to shut down oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay through the end of 2025TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- 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. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission did express the hope of reopening the bay before the ban on commercial and recreational harvesting ends if oysters recover sooner. But instead of serving Apalachicola oysters, they're buying them from Texas. The commission issued an emergency order in July shutting down oyster harvesting on Aug. 1 until it could consider the five-year shutdown. When lumber faded, it reinvented itself again and prospered on shrimping and oyster harvesting.

Source: ABC News December 16, 2020 06:21 UTC