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Apalachicola Bay
System Initiative

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Community Advisory Board

A key component of ABSI is to involve stakeholders in a meaningful consensus-building process for development and implementation of an ecosystem-based oyster management and restoration plan. The Community Advisory Board (CAB) assembled by FSU is tasked with providing input into that initiative. The 23 members of the CAB include watermen, local government officials & business owners, people in the seafood and recreational fishing industries, & environmental groups.

Members of the ABSI Community Advisory Board represent stakeholders whose lives are inextricably tied to the health of the Apalachicola Bay System, businesses that depend on the economic  stability of the county, and the agencies responsible for the management and conservation of the region. Represented are those in agriculture, real estate, economic development, tourism, environmental groups, citizens, local government, recreational fishing, the seafood industry, and state government.  Not only are the members critical to development of restoration and management plans for the Bay, but they serve as ambassadors for ABSI. Meet the members by clicking here.

With meeting design and facilitation guided by Jeff Blair of Facilitated Solution, members described desired outcomes they hoped would follow from the Community Advisory Board process, including:

  • Bringing the community together to implement a plan of action to bring back a thriving Bay again with a balance of fresh and salt water
  • Developing a comprehensive and coordinated management plan with state support for the Bay for multiple species looking to restore the Bay and improve the natural oyster beds
  • Restoring and sustaining the Bay ecosystem, water quality and oyster fishery and connect to the broader transboundary ACF plan
  • Developing a science-driven plan and implementation process