Despite fishermen’s wishes to delay the season in hopes that oyster reefs recover from years of environmental stress, the state pushed ahead with a Nov. 1 start.
Manuel Perez watches as neighboring oyster boats maneuver around the harvesting zone in Galveston Bay, outside of Texas City, on the first day of the oyster harvesting season, on Nov. 1, 2023., The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Texas oysters have suffered from stronger storms and worsening droughts as the effects of climate change intensify. The state has increasingly closed public harvest areas where it considers oysters too small or too scarce, in an effort to protect them. Last year, the state opened only a small portion of the public reefs. Fishermen crowded into the available areas, catching what they could over a shortened season, then turned to other jobs to pay the bills.
Oysters play a critical role in the environment, improving water quality, buffering shorelines against storms and providing habitat for other marine animals. They’re also crucial to the nation’s wild oyster industry: Gulf oysters accounted for 45% of harvested oysters in the country in 2019, according toBoat captains are struggling.
Oysters were abundant in Texas decades ago, especially in Galveston Bay. But the bivalves rely on specific conditions for spawning and growing. Storms and drought can harm them, as can overharvesting. “The oysters are constantly getting knocked down and trying to climb back out of that hole again and something else happens,” Pollack said. “Evidence right now indicates that probably those reefs need more time.
Rodney studied another tile from near the sanctuary reef. This one had fewer baby oysters, called spat, but that didn’t negate his theory yet.Industry members fight for a future at stake “I feel like Rett Reef is going to be a turning point. It's going to help the industry and the state to be able to work together. That's all we ask, give us a chance,” she said.In Texas City, Jurisich, 41, used to focus on oysters; his family’s company, U.S. Sea Products, owns and maintains boats and sells oysters wholesale. But in recent years he has waded into policy issues, starting a group he calls the Texas Oyster Association.
“There are things that are happening that are movements in the right direction,” Williams said. “It’s just a very complicated situation, and it’s even more complicated because people’s livelihoods and heritage are being impacted.”
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