Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has requested USD 30 million (EUR 25.5 million) for oyster restoration efforts in the Southern U.S. state as part of his 2026-2027 state budget proposal.
“Since Governor DeSantis took office, his unwavering dedication to preserving Florida’s natural resources has ensured our conservation legacy will thrive for generations to come,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a release. “With his support, Florida continues to remain the fishing and boating capital of the world and provides exceptional recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.”
The USD 117.4 million (EUR 99.9 million) budget proposal includes USD 25 million (EUR 21 million) to continue restoration in the recently reopened Apalachicola Bay.
“This project will provide for continued restoration in Apalachicola Bay in support of sustainable oyster reefs that protect and enhance the ecosystem services this natural resource provides to the public,” the governor’s office noted in a release.
Apalachicola Bay once produced 10 percent of all oysters consumed in the U.S., but the area was closed to harvesting in 2020 following a sharp decline in oyster populations in the bay and around the state. A February 2025 FWC staff report noted that the state’s oysters continue to face several threats, including habitat loss, disease, changes in water quality, predators, and the northward expansions of mangrove forests.
“Regardless of reef type or location, all Florida oyster reefs that were once dense and prolific are now extremely patchy due to severe declines. Several areas in Florida have shown significant loss in oyster reefs. Apalachicola Bay has shown a 95 percent decline in oyster reefs, Pensacola Bay has a 72 percent loss, and the Big Bend has shown an 88 percent decline in offshore reefs and a 50 percent loss in inshore reefs,” the report noted. “Continued investment in restoration and recovery, along with an improved regulatory framework for wild oyster harvest, is necessary to improve the condition of oysters in Florida.”
After a five-year moratorium on oyster harvesting, earlier this year, the state government announced that the Apalachicola Bay oyster population had sufficiently recovered to allow a small commercial harvest. The FWC approved a revised oyster management plan for Apalachicola Bay which will see its first season run from 1 January 2026 through 28 February, with subsequent seasons running from October through February. Applications for commercial endorsements closes 16 December.
In addition to the USD 25 million, another USD 5 million (EUR 4.3 million) will be invested in Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) projects that support the Apalachicola Bay Area of Critical State Concern.
“Continuing these investments is crucial to the successful reopening and long-term recovery of the Apalachicola Bay oyster industry,” the FWC noted in a release.
DeSantis had also requested USD 30 million for oyster restoration in his 2025-2026 budget request, but the legislature only approved about half of the requested spending; the final budget included USD 12.5 million (EUR 10.6 million) for restoring oyster reefs in Apalachicola Bay and USD 5 million for water resource protections projects.
This year, the DeSantis administration is aiming to secure the full funding request for the bay.
“Florida leads the way in conservation thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis, and that includes our efforts to expedite the restoration of oyster reefs in Apalachicola Bay and seagrass along Crystal River,” FWC Executive Director Roger Young said of the budget request.
