AUSTIN, Texas — Oyster season in Texas opens on Nov. 1, but many of the shellfish areas across the state’s coastline will be closed when the season opens.
According to a release posted by Texas Parks and Wildlife, of the 28 shellfish harvest areas in Texas, 20 will start the season closed. TWPD said it’s in an effort to protest and restore oyster reefs that appear to be showing signs of environmental stress.
“Working in partnership with stakeholders, the Texas Parks and Wildlife continues to prioritize the importance of healthy oyster reefs for both commercial and recreational fishing,” TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. said. “Maintaining a healthy and sustainable oyster fishery is more important than ever and opening the oyster season will allow commercial oystering an opportunity to work some reefs while allowing other reefs time to recover.”
The TWPD said the eight reefs that will be open have a high number of legal-size oyster, but conditions over the summer were not good for overall oyster growth.
“We had hoped for better abundance numbers that would have allowed for more areas to be open,” Robin Riechers, director of Coastal Fisheries for TPWD, said.
To help with recovery, Texas Parks and Wildlife said they will continue to check shellfish harvest areas and will close ones that aren't up to standards.
The State Health Department has a map, showing the harvest areas opened and closed. The map is blow and at this link.
Oyster season in Texas runs through April 30, 2024.
