To no surprise, the oyster industry dominated the news in 2014, from tension with the ranks of the seafood workers, to calls for a change in policy, and finally to a much-needed infusion of federal dollars to help bolster the sagging seafood economy.
In March, facing a scarcity of oysters on bars picked clean in recent years and depleted by the lack of freshwater from upstream, the Franklin County Seafood Workers Association hammered out a recommendation to lower the daily bag limit to better spread out the summer harvest that began June 1.
FCSWA President Shannon Hartsfield said the 15-member Seafood Management Assistance Recovery Team has discussed trying to change the bag limit, and making East Hole into a summer bar. He reminded the rank-and-file who filled the courthouse annex that a five-day workweek, with all oysters brought in by 2 p.m., were necessary rules.
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