After five years of being closed, Apalchicola Bay could open back up for oyster harvesting.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering partially opening the Apalachicola Bay for wild oyster harvesting.

The bay collapsed in 2013, and its been closed since 2020 to allow the oyster reefs to recover.

I think the most important thing to me about Apalachicola Bay being open to wild oysters is that its managed and respected in a way that allows it to stay open productively,” said Dewey Houck who owns Cypress Point Oyster Company.

He says if the fishery can remain healthy, its a benefit for this area.

We need more oysters to take to the market and the more people that can do it whether theyre growing oysters in aquaculture or harvesting wild, if thats sustainably done, that is all good news for the gulf,” said Dr. Sandra Brooks who is a researcher at FSU Coastal and Marine Lab.

Shes been monitoring oyster activity in the bay for years and says shes optimistic about the health of the fishery.

Weve watched the oysters come back, its very patchy and its not everywhere in the bay, but we have seen an increase especially in the Eastern side of the bay over time,” said Dr. Brooks.

If the bay opens up, she hopes that everyone will be cautious.

Its going to have to be managed too very carefully, otherwise I think it would be easy to send them back to the same situation,” said Dr. Brooks. “They were in 2020.

Oysters are not only what drives the economy for Apalachicola and surrounding areas, but they also help the environment. Thats why neighbors like Houck hope it can be utilized in a healthy way.

If we dont work really hard to get these fisheries where theyre productive where people can earn their living from it, then weve lost both the livelihood and the ability to filter the water,” said Houck.

The bay is set to open back up next January.