Rick Scott to Review Impact of Oyster Decline in Apalachicola Bay

Gov. Rick Scott is heading to Apalachicola Bay on Wednesday to inspect the area impacted by the decline in oyster and other fisheries.

Scott is scheduled to be at the Franklin County Fire Station in East Point around 1:15 p.m. to talk with county officials and residents.

Scott has asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to declare oyster harvesting areas in the Gulf of Mexico around Apalachicola Bay a fishery resource disaster, in part because of years of drought conditions and overharvesting.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putman has placed blame on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for restricting upstream water flow which has reduced the amount of fresh water vital for the growth of oysters in the bay.