TPWD Closes Oystering In Mesquite Bay

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is closing TX-28 in Mesquite Bay, part of the Aransas Bay complex, to commercial and recreational oyster harvest beginning at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021.

This closing is based on samples recently collected by TPWD showing low abundance of legal-sized oysters. TPWD has worked with the oyster industry to develop criteria for closing areas to harvest. The criteria include parameters for oysters when they fall below certain thresholds based on the abundance of legal-sized oysters (3 inches or greater) and the percentage of small oysters (2-2.9 inches).

After this closure, 17 out of 27 approved or conditionally approved areas will be closed to oyster harvest. These areas will continue to be monitored by TPWD and will reopen when criteria thresholds are met.

A map showing oyster harvesting areas can be found on the Department of State Health Services website.