The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division (MRD) announced on Thursday that the state will open limited areas of public oyster bottoms for weekday harvest beginning on Monday, October 3, 2022. Oyster harvesting will begin at 7:00 a.m. and close each weekday at 2 p.m. The state will allow weekend harvesting on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 12 noon on October 8, 15, 22, and 29.
Oysters, whose population had declined from previous decades, are making a comeback. 50,000 sacks of oysters were harvested in the 2021-2022 season – more than double what it was the previous year. Better management is being credited for this improvement.
“Alabama’s wild oyster population is in fair condition and improving. Improvement is a multi-faceted issue,” MRD Director Scott Bannon said. “Some things in nature are rebounding to levels they need to be. They are reaching a balance. Also, some practices have changed in how we address oysters harvest to catch maximum yield but leave enough to impact water quality.”
Harvesters can view their locations and the open harvest areas with Alabama’s Oyster Management Station (OMS) Oyster Grid Map.
Harvesters are reminded to visit the Oyster Management Stations located across from Jemison’s Bait and Tackle at 16871 Dauphin Island Parkway, Coden, Alabama 36523) or Delta Port Marina at 5080 Green Drive, Coden, Alabama 36523) to drop off their OMS ID cards and confirm which grids are open for harvest prior to the start of their harvesting trip.
Heron Bay, Cedar Point East, and Cedar Point West grids will open on Monday, October 3. Grids will close based on evaluations of the harvest by the MRD staff.
In order to be a legal recreational oyster harvester, you must report your catch and purchase a recreational harvest tag at the OMS station. Recreational harvesters are allowed to harvest up to 100 legal-size (minimum 3 inches) oysters in the same areas and during the same times as commercial harvest.
No license is required, but commercial and recreational oysters may not be transported together on a vessel.
All commercial oyster catchers, regardless of age, must have a commercial oyster catcher’s license in order to participate in the harvest. Commercial oyster catchers may harvest up to six sacks per person/vessel per day regardless of how many licensed harvesters are aboard.
Recreational oyster catchers may harvest 100 legal-size oysters per person per day. Recreational harvest may only occur in areas and at times that are open for commercial harvest.
The approved harvest methods are tong and hand only.
The Management Station is located at the Cedar Point Cutoff across from Jemison’s Bait and Tackle and Delta Port Marina.
The Management Station will open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. When selected Saturdays are open to harvest, only the OMS at Jemison’s Bait and Tackle will be open.
To contact the Management Station by phone: 251-257-9966
For more information about licensing and regulations, please contact the MRD by calling 251 861-2882 or visit the MRD office located at 2 North Iberville Drive on Dauphin Island.
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