FWC wants input on new Big Bend oyster rules at Suwannee and Cedar Key workshops

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking oyster harvesters along the Big Bend to weigh in on new wild oyster rules for Dixie, Levy and Citrus counties. FWC says several studies have documented oyster declines in the region and the current regulations no longer match the state of the resource.

Staff plan to present several possible changes. Under the proposals, each bag could hold up to 11 unattached and 33 attached undersized oysters. Commercial harvesters would need a regional endorsement. Recreational and commercial harvesters would have a seasonal bag limit, the season would run Oct. 1 through the end of February, and harvesters would have to report what they take. Feedback will shape the recommendations that go to the commission in 2027.

Both workshops run 6–8 p.m. ET. The first is Monday, Oct. 26, at Salt Creek Restaurant & Marker 29, 23440 SE County Road 349, Suwannee. The second is Thursday, Oct. 29, at Cedar Key School, 951 Whiddon Ave., Cedar Key. A recording will be posted at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterWorkshops and on FWC's saltwater YouTube channel. Comments can be sent through MyFWC.com/Marine under "Rulemaking: Submit a Comment/Attend a Workshop."

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: FWC — Marine Fisheries Workshops: Big Bend Oyster Management. Also reported by Fox 49 — FWC seeks public input on Big Bend oyster harvest rules (Oct. 20, 2026).