August 4, 2025 — About 20 years ago, the Apalachicola Bay had 10,000 acres of healthy oyster habitats. Now, that is no longer the case.
The industry collapsed in 2013, which eventually led to the closure of the bay in 2020.
Research showed that there are only about 500 acres of suitable oyster habitats in the bay, representing a historical 95% decline.
Of those 500, fewer than 100 acres are producing enough oysters that can be harvested commercially.