APALACHICOLA BAY, Fla. (WCTV) - Wild oyster harvesting is one step closer to returning to the waters of Apalachicola Bay.

Thursday morning, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to approve preliminary guidelines that would essentially allow a partial reopening of the bay for wild oyster harvesting.

The vote is a pivotal step in opening the bay to harvesting oysters after freezing for five years following a FWC vote in 2020.

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Earlier this week, WCTV reported that the oyster fishery would’ve opened in time for the October 2026 season if approved on Thursday.

However, the commission changed the staff recommendation to open the fishery in January 2026 instead.

A final vote is scheduled for November.

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