According to TPWD, the oysters there weren’t legal size.<\/p>\n
GALVESTON, Texas \u2014 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is closing down an oyster harvesting area in Galveston Bay after recent sampling showed a drop in legal-sized oysters.<\/p>\n
According to a TPWD release sent out on Friday, April 17<\/a>, oyster zone TX-1 will be closed to both commercial and recreational harvest beginning at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 21. The decision to close it came after data collected by the agency showed a low number of oysters measuring at least three inches, the minimum legal size for harvest.<\/p>\n TPWD officials said the closure follows the criteria developed in coordination with the oyster industry. Those guidelines rely on population thresholds, including the availability of oysters that meet or exceed the three-inch standard.<\/p>\n Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said they will continue monitoring all areas currently closed to harvesting. Zones will be reopened once oyster populations recover and meet the required thresholds.<\/p>\n If you want to see which areas are open and which are closed, Texas Health and Human Services has a list<\/a>. \u00a0Here’s a map of affected areas<\/a>.<\/p>\n