Oystermen are Back on the Bay - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

The Apalachicola bay is no longer off limits...meaning Franklin county oystermen have the green light to get back to work. However the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby is making it a struggle too.

 For oystermen Marty Davis and Danny Pinho, their daily job fetching for oysters is proving more difficult after Debby.  "We lost a lot, the bottom is tore up," says Pinho. "They're [oysters] covered up with something as the bottom took a beating." And because of the torn up bottom, the oystermen are bringing in only half of what they usually do.

 The bay was closed for 10 days meaning seafood distribution centers had to buy oysters from out of state….and meaning oystermen like Marty Davis and Danny Pinho went without any income. Income they say cost them about fifteen hundred dollars.

 But the oystermen will be back on the water bright early every day this week and praying for better conditions. "If you don't keep the faith, you're in trouble in this business," says Pinho. "As long as we don't stay down too long we are okay."