Gov. Charlie Crist heard reports of disappearing oysters from Apalachicola Bay this afternoon, the result of less fresh water flowing into the bay from the Apalachicola River _ a drought-caused phenomenon recently exacerbated by a federal decision to let Georgia hang onto more of that water for parched Atlanta.

Lynn Martina, owner of Lynn’s Seafood in Eastpoint, said oystermen are finding fewer and fewer of the shellfish in the bay, leading more and more of them to congregate on a particular bar near the river’s mouth where the water remains closer to its normal salinity. “We’re working that area to death, and when it’s gone, that’s going to be it,” she said.

Georgia recently persuaded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to retain more water in northern Georgia for five months, thereby reducing the flow of water coming into Florida. Crist said he opposed that decision and hopes to reach an accord that’s better for the Panhandle seafood industry when he meets with the governors of Georgia and Alabama on Dec. 11 in Tallahassee.

Tommy Ward, president of the Apalachicola Bay Oyster Dealers Association, said that if Florida is going to cooperate with Georgia, then Georgia ought to be willing work with Florida, at least for the critical oyster spawning season that starts March 1. “Give us at least two months of that normal water flow so we don’t lose that spring spawning season,” he said.

Crist told the 10 business and political leaders from Franklin County that he appreciated their plight. “Water is life, and making sure that we continue to have that flow, and our fair share, of what’s supposed to come through Georgia is what I’m all about,” he said — but stopped short of saying he would pursue a lawsuit. “I am more optimistic than that. I would prefer that we are able to make it work out in an amicable way, and I think we can.”

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