Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media
The state’s oyster season opens Friday with limited fishing after severe storms hit an already struggling industry.
Only 10 of the 28 public oyster fisheries along the Texas coast will be open for the season. The planned closure comes after Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sampling determined there were few market-sized oysters on the reef ahead of the season.
“This is something we have to work on, and it’s a good start,” said Johnny Juricic, an oyster harvester and wholesaler in Texas City. “Once the oysters grow to the right size, more areas can open up.”
But he said he relies on harvesters to contact parks and wildlife services when the oysters are mature and ready for harvest.
Of the nine oyster harvesting sites in Galveston Bay, only three will be open this season. Two of Matagorda Bay’s nine harvest areas will be open. But Juricic said he was looking forward to the start of the season.
“With many other states reopening around the same time, it’s time for people to get excited about eating oysters again,” he said.
Earlier this year, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry issued a disaster declaration for the region’s oyster industry, which continues to suffer setbacks from natural disasters, oyster reef damage and coastal erosion.
Hurricane Beryl has caused a surge in freshwater flow into Galveston Bay, officials said. A disaster was declared in order to obtain federal funds to financially support local business owners affected by the issue.
With plans to spread the commercial oyster fleet over a wider geographic area, the Parks and Wildlife Service plans to expand the 2024-2025 season to include reefs with abundant market-sized oysters and reefs with low abundance. Three additional trapping areas are planned to be opened.
Oysters create habitats that provide ecosystems and fisheries resources, including acting as filters and improving water quality.
“We had hoped that with higher oyster catches, more waters would be open this season,” Robin Reachers, head of the ministry’s Coastal Fisheries Division, said in a press release. .
“Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Alberto and Hurricane Beryl caused a significant influx of freshwater into the Galveston Bay system, resulting in significant oyster mortality in the Texas bay,” Reachers said. said.
“We continue our oyster restoration efforts and are excited about the potential for wild oyster populations to grow, both for commercial purposes as well as for the many ecological benefits that oysters provide,” Reachers said. said.
According to the Parks and Wildlife Service, closing areas to oyster harvesting will help conserve and replenish the ecosystem. The agency continues to sample harvest areas to facilitate coral reef recovery.
