GALVESTON, Texas — Two oyster harvest areas will be closed in Galveston Bay starting next week.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, samples collected in those two spots showed a low number of legal-sized oysters, which need to be at least three inches. The two areas will close at 12:01 a.m. Monday, November 27, to both commercial and recreational harvesting and will open them back up when Texas Parks and Wildlife notices enough legal-sized oysters there, compared to the smaller ones.
The two areas that will be shutting down are TX-1 and TX-5, which you can see on the map showing open and closed oyster harvest areas.
Oyster season started on Nov. 7 with 20 of 28 harvest areas shut down because of the size of the oysters. TWPD said at the time that the conditions over the summer we not good for shellfish growth. According to the Texas Tribune, stronger storms and worsening drought has negatively affected oyster growth.
Oyster season in Texas runs through April 30, 2024.
As of Monday, the following areas will be open to public oyster harvest. You can see the locations on the interactive map above.
Galveston Bay
- TX- 2
- TX- 8
Matagorda Bay
- TX- 11
- TX- 13
Corpus Christi Bay
- TX- 33
Lower Laguna Madre
- TX- 34