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Oyster License Buyback Program Growing
OF 545 AVAILABLE OYSTER LICENSES, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) received 115 commercial oyster boat license offers in round nine of its Oyster License Buyback Program, which, if all applicants participate, would represent a reduction by 21 percent of total oyster licenses in the state.
TPWD administers voluntary commercial fishing license buyback programs for inshore shrimp, crab and finfish fisheries, all of which have had a license moratorium since 2005 or earlier.
TPWD received authority for an oyster license buyback from the Texas Legislature in 2017 and held the first buyback for oyster licenses in 2018. After several years of limited success in purchasing oyster licenses, TPWD changed the approach with the help of key partners. This round offered a fixed rate for the licenses instead of a reverse bid process used in past buyback rounds.
The final number of purchased licenses for round nine will depend on the number of applicants who sign a contract for their oyster boat license to complete the final transaction.
Reducing the number of oyster licenses in Texas has remained a top priority for both the oyster industry and various conservation groups. Funds generated from a surcharge on these commercial licenses go to purchase and retire commercial crab, finfish, bait and bay shrimp and oyster licenses, helping to ensure sustainable and stable populations over the long term.
The department intends to purchase all 115 licenses, with the help of significant donations from key donors.
Earlier this year, the department joined forces with Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to create a public-private partnership and establish the S. Reed Morian Oyster Buyback Program to raise the funds needed for this latest round of buybacks. A volunteer-led group of conservation-minded individuals and foundations has pledged their support. Key funders include the Laurie and S. Reed Morian Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association, the Brown Foundation, the Earl C. Sams Foundation, Jeffery and Mindy Hildebrand, Beaver and Joanie Aplin, John and Mary Eads, and Bobby and Sherri Patton.
TPWD will be notifying all commercial oyster boat license applicants that they can now begin the next steps to complete the transaction.
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New Public Hunting Land Opened
WITH THE ADDITION of three new properties, Texas’ 2025-26 hunting season will offer more public hunting opportunities through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Public Hunting Program.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Adds Three Properties to Public Hunting Offerings
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorized 2025-26 hunting season dates for public hunting lands and Texas State Parks that will offer 140 different public hunts in 52 State Park and State Natural Areas, totaling more than 521,000 acres of publicly accessible land.
“We are so excited to be able to continue to grow the public hunting opportunities within state parks and natural areas every year, including on some of the newest park properties,” said Greg Creacy, Texas State Parks Natural Resources program director. “The number of hunted parks has increased from 45 to 52 in the past five years. The addition of some of our newest sites, including the recent acquisitions at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and Post Oak Ridge State Park, gives hunters a special opportunity to help the department with land management on these unique properties.”
The newest additions of acreage added to the public hunting program in Texas State Parks include 1,650 acres at Dinosaur Valley State Park, 1,400 acres at Ray Roberts Lake State Park– Isle du Bois Unit, 3,100 acres at Post Oak Ridge State Park, 3,100 acres at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and 1,000 acres at Government Canyon State Natural Area.
TPWD’s Public Hunting Program includes more than a million acres located throughout Texas. Access to these lands is provided by two types of permits: the $48 Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit, available beginning Aug. 15.
—from TF&G STAFF REPORTS
