Economic Impact of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the FL Gulf Coast Oyster Industry

Apalachicola Bay is a river-dominated, barrier island estuary situated in the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Seafood production is a major industry in Franklin County, where the bay is located, with shellfish harvesting, especially of the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, contributing significantly to the local economy. The bay’s oyster bars produce 90% of the oysters harvested in the state of Florida, and 10% of the nation’s oysters. The industry generates $10-$14 million in revenue annually, and in Franklin County, oysters make up nearly one-third the value of commercial marine landings. Recently, the bay has experienced both natural and man-induced disasters, including hurricanes, severe drought, and most recently, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Compared to other areas along the Gulf Coast, the water quality in Apalachicola Bay has remained relatively unaffected, with the exception of tar balls washing ashore and some oil sheens. To enhance oyster landings, the state opened a 7-day-per-week oyster harvest at both the summer and winter harvesting grounds during June-August 2010; however, preliminary commercial landings reports suggest that Franklin County’s 2010 oyster harvest was the lowest in 5 years, although landings from 2007 and 2009 were the highest in 20 years. Furthermore, the annual 2010 landings rate (pounds/trip) was the lowest since 1991. This drop in oyster production and the over-tapping of the winter oyster beds translated to millions of dollars in lost in revenue, which reverberated throughout the Florida restaurant and tourism industry.