TPWD Closing Oyster Harvest In Galveston Bay

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is closing TX-2, TX-3 and TX-9 in Galveston Bay to commercial and recreational oyster harvest beginning at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

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).

All areas currently closed to harvest will continue to be monitored by TPWD and will reopen when criteria thresholds are met. As of Tuesday, March 22, 2022 these areas will be closed to public oyster harvest:

Galveston Bay System — TX-1, TX-2, TX-3 TX-4, TX-5, TX-6, TX-7, TX -9

Matagorda Bay System — TX-12, TX-13, TX-15, TX-16, TX-18, TX-19, TX-20, TX-21,

San Antonio Bay System — TX-24, TX-25, TX-26, TX-27,

Aransas Bay System – TX-28, TX-29. TX-30 and TX-32

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