Commercial Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Season Opens Saturday, July 15

The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for state and federal waters will reopen 30 minutes after sunset on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Biologists evaluate the biological, social and economic impacts when determining the opening date to maximize the benefits to the industry and the public.

Texas Oyster Season Opens Nov. 1 With Multiple Bay Closures

The Texas commercial and recreational oyster season opens Tuesday, Nov. 1 and closes April 30, 2023. In an effort to protect and restore oyster reefs showing signs of environmental stress, many shellfish harvest areas will be closed to oyster fishing at the beginning of this season.

Weathering the Oyster Industry Financial Tides in Texas

On March 23, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department heard public comments from industry businessmen, oystermen workers, stakeholders and researchers in the field in response to an agenda item to permanently close the Ayres, Carlos and Mesquite Bays. The department stated that the closures are due to harvest reefs not producing oysters at the legal size to harvest.