APALACHICOLA, Fla. – For the first time in over five years, working watermen will head out into the Apalachicola Bay on New Year’s Day to harvest the region’s famous wild oysters.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that the bay will reopen on Jan. 1, 2026, marking the end of a long, federally and state-backed hiatus designed to save the ecosystem from total collapse. The harvest season is set to run through Feb. 28 for specific permit holders.
This reopening represents a critical turning point for Franklin County, where the oyster industry has historically been the economic and cultural heartbeat. At its peak, the Apalachicola Bay supplied roughly 90% of Florida’s wild oyster landings and 10% of the entire national supply. However, a catastrophic decline in the oyster population that began in 2013 forced officials to close the waters entirely in 2020.
“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.
Young credited the turnaround to a massive collaborative effort involving Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and university researchers. Since 2019, more than $38 million has been poured into restoration projects, specifically targeting the rebuilding of oyster reefs that had been decimated over the last two decades.
While the bay is open, it is not yet business as usual. The FWC approved a revised management plan in November 2025 that dictates strict limits to ensure the recovering reefs aren’t stripped bare again.
Access for this initial season is limited to those who secured permits between Nov. 10 and Dec. 16. Commercial harvesters will split a total available haul of approximately 4,700 bags. Recreational permit holders are restricted to harvesting a single bag for the entire season.
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According to the FWC, the current harvest is only possible because of the specific restoration sites where oyster density has finally bounced back enough to support fishing.
Officials plan to keep a close watch on the water. The state will continue monitoring the health of the reefs and adjust future catch limits based on abundance. Following this limited two-month window, the next full season is scheduled to open on Oct. 1, 2026.
“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,” Young said.
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