Apalachicola Bay used to supply 90% of Florida's oysters and 10% of America's wild oysters.
The iconic fishery collapsed in 2012, forcing a complete closure in 2020 that devastated working families who'd spent generations on those waters.
And Ron DeSantis just got revenge on the Florida Legislature with this $30 million oyster demand.
Legislature Cut DeSantis' Oyster Funding in Half Last Year
DeSantis proposed his 2026-2027 state budget this week and included $30 million for oyster restoration in Apalachicola Bay.¹
The request caught attention because it's the exact same amount he requested last year.
Florida's legislature only approved about half of that request in 2025 — cutting it down to $12.5 million for oyster reef restoration and $5 million for water resource protection projects.²
Now DeSantis is back demanding the full $30 million.
"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 Chairman Rodney Barreto said.³
The $30 million proposal includes $25 million specifically for Apalachicola Bay restoration and another $5 million for Department of Environmental Protection projects supporting the area designated as Critical State Concern.⁴
DeSantis reopened Apalachicola Bay for limited commercial harvest starting January 1, 2026 after five years of closure.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1998507756462981364?s=20
But here's the problem: oyster populations remain extremely vulnerable.
The Bay Suffered a 95% Decline in Oyster Reefs
Apalachicola Bay once produced fishing industry magic that rivaled Maine lobster and Maryland blue crab in prestige.
At its peak, approximately 90% of Florida's commercial oyster landings and 10% of all wild oysters consumed nationally came from these waters.⁵
The fishery generated an estimated $134 million in annual economic output before the 2012 collapse.⁶
Multiple disasters hit the bay simultaneously — severe droughts reduced freshwater flow from the Apalachicola River, causing salinity levels to spike.
High salinity allowed oyster predators, parasites, and disease-causing organisms to thrive while oyster populations crashed.
Hurricane Michael slammed into the region in 2018, dealing another devastating blow to recovery efforts.
A February 2025 FWC staff report documented the extent of the damage: "Apalachicola Bay has shown a 95 percent decline in oyster reefs."⁷
Pensacola Bay lost 72% of its oyster reefs, and the Big Bend region suffered an 88% decline in offshore reefs.
"Regardless of reef type or location, all Florida oyster reefs that were once dense and prolific are now extremely patchy due to severe declines," the report stated.⁸
The Supreme Court ruled against Florida in 2021 when the state sued Georgia over upstream water use, concluding Florida failed to prove Georgia caused the collapse.
The court threw the blame right back at Florida — state officials let overharvesting gut the fishery and failed to replace enough shells for new oysters to grow on.
Florida has dumped over $38 million into restoration since 2019 trying to fix the mess.⁹
Legislature Played Budget Games While Families Suffered
DeSantis spent 2025 fighting his own Republican legislature over environmental funding.
In March, he slammed House Republicans for proposing nearly $500 million in cuts to Everglades and water quality funding.
"Shouldn't you be doing what's right for the people of Florida? Stop playing your petty games," DeSantis said during a Naples press conference.¹⁰
That same pattern repeated with oyster restoration funding — DeSantis requested $30 million, legislators approved barely half.
Multigenerational families who made their living harvesting oysters were forced to find work in construction, air conditioning, and plumbing while waiting for the bay to recover.
The collapse caused cascading social, cultural, and economic impacts throughout the Apalachicola community — many residents lost employment or supplemental income and were forced to find multiple jobs or shift business models entirely.¹¹
The collective identity of the region as a working waterfront shifted as oyster houses closed and the landscape changed.
Now those families face a limited harvest season starting January 1 with strict new regulations and permit requirements.
The bay reopening depends on continued massive restoration investment — exactly what legislators tried to slash last year.
DeSantis' $30 million request for 2026-2027 is demanding legislators put their money where their mouths are about conservation and supporting Florida's working families.
The legislature will negotiate DeSantis' budget proposal during the 2026 session starting January 13.
¹ Nathan Strout, "Florida governor seeks USD 30 million for oyster restoration," SeafoodSource, December 17, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ "FWC: Governor Ron DeSantis' Floridians First Budget prioritizes Florida's oyster reefs, manatees," FWC, December 11, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ "Governor Ron DeSantis Applauds FWC's Approval to Reopen Apalachicola Bay's Oyster Industry," Executive Office of the Governor, 2025.
⁶ "Community effort aims to restore Apalachicola Bay oyster harvests, livelihoods," The Invading Sea, May 16, 2024.
⁷ Nathan Strout, "Florida governor seeks USD 30 million for oyster restoration," SeafoodSource, December 17, 2025.
⁸ Ibid.
⁹ "Governor Ron DeSantis Applauds FWC's Approval to Reopen Apalachicola Bay's Oyster Industry," Executive Office of the Governor, 2025.
¹⁰ "DeSantis slams Florida House over proposed slashes to Everglades funding," WUSF, April 23, 2025.
¹¹ "Mobile Bay And Apalachicola Bay Rebuild Historic Oyster Populations," OBA Website, December 2025.
