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North Florida<\/a>‘s Apalachicola Bay will reopen for wild oyster harvesting, a move that supporters hope will breathe life into one of the last historic working waterfronts in a state where much of the picturesque coastline has long given way to high-rise condos and strip mall souvenir shops.<\/p>\n The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the plan Wednesday to reopen the bay for a limited oyster season on Jan. 1, 2026, five years after the waters that had been nationally known for the sweet, plump shellfish were closed because of dwindling populations. <\/p>\n The closure of the bay along what is known as Florida\u2019s \u201cForgotten Coast\u201d dealt a blow to an area that historically produced 90% of the state\u2019s oysters and 10% of the nation\u2019s supply. <\/p>\n Apalachicola oysters were iconic, comparable to Maine<\/a> lobster and Maryland<\/a> blue crabs, and their loss marked another sign that a way of life for generations of commercial fishermen is disappearing along with their harvest. <\/p>\n The once-booming oyster industry is part of the lifeblood of the town of Apalachicola, which in the 1800s became the third-largest port on the Gulf of Mexico, trailing only New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama<\/a>.<\/p>\n Many oystermen haven’t adjusted well to being forced off the water and into \u201cland jobs” like construction and landscaping, said Wayne Williams, president of the area\u2019s Seafood Work & Watermen\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n \u201cYou go from a boat captain to cutting somebody\u2019s grass. You know, that\u2019s a pretty big change,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n Around the world, fish and shellfish populations have dwindled to dangerously low levels, as one of society\u2019s oldest occupations faces warming seas, global appetites and overfishing.<\/p>\n