2
2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
IMPORTANT NOTICES
NOTICES BY TPWD
1.
A Harvester/Shell Recovery Tag
a. The tag must be affixed to the outside of each sack of oysters at the
time of harvest, in the location of
harvest, contain information required
by the Department of State Health
Services under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, and remain
affixed during transportation of the
oysters to a dealer.
b. The appropriate Harvester/Shell
Recovery Tag (green or white) must
be affixed to the sack regardless of
the season or whether the requirements of 25 TAC §241.57 (relating to
Molluscan Shellfish Harvesting and
Handling) apply.
2. All commercial shipments of aquatic
products must be accompanied by an
invoice and containers must be labeled.
(See Page 18 — SHIPPING REGULATIONS.)
3. The Shipper and Receiver of commercial shipments of aquatic products must
keep the shipping invoices on file as a
record for one year from the date of
shipment. (See page 19 — RECORDS.)
4. Consumption of Clams, Mussels, and
Other Molluscan Shellfish taken from public fresh waters is prohibited by the Texas
Department of State Health Services.
5. Clams, Mussels, Oysters, and Other
Molluscan Shellfish taken from public
salt waters may be taken only from
waters approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Maps
identifying approved areas may be
obtained from the Texas Department of
State Health Services, Seafood Safety
Division (512) 834-6757. Additional
information concerning area closures
may be obtained 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week by calling (800) 685-0361.
CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES
Fish and shellfish can be a source of highquality protein in your diet. Fish and shellfish,
however, can accumulate contaminants
from the waters in which they live. The
Texas Department of State Health Services
(TDSHS) monitors fish in the state for the
presence of environmental contaminants and
alerts the public through bans and advisories
when a threat to human health may occur
from the consumption of contaminated fish.
In waters with consumption bans, possession
and consumption of fish and/or shellfish is
prohibited. Catch-and-release fishing from
these areas is allowed. A consumption advisory is a recommendation to limit consumption to specified quantities, species, and sizes
of fish. For additional information, a listing
of all consumption bans and advisories, or a
listing of areas tested where no bans or advisories were issued, visit www.dshs.texas.gov/
seafood or call the TDSHS at (800) 685-0361
(shellfish) or (512) 834-6757 (fish).
RETENTION BANS ON FINFISH AND
SHELLFISH
By order of the Texas Department of State
Health Services (TDSHS) retention bans on
finfish and shellfish are in effect in the
following areas:
1.
The area of Lavaca Bay inshore of a
line beginning at the last point of land
at the northeastern approach of the
Lavaca Bay Causeway, then in a southwest direction to Aquatic Life Marker
A to Aquatic Life Marker B to Channel
Marker #12, then in a southeastern
direction to Aquatic Life Marker C to
Aquatic Life Marker D to Aquatic Life
Marker E to Channel Marker #74, then
in a northeastern direction to Aquatic
Life Marker F to the southernmost point
of land on the spoil island east of the
ship channel, is closed to the retention
of finfish and crabs. (Catch and release
of finfish and crabs is lawful. This closure is due to mercury contamination.)
2. The Donna Irrigation System in Hidalgo
County is declared a prohibited area for
the taking of all species of aquatic life.
This closure is due to elevated levels of
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found
in fish samples.
223
2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
IMPORTANT NOTICES
NOTICES BY TPWD
1.
A Harvester/Shell Recovery Tag
a. The tag must be affixed to the outside of each sack of oysters at the
time of harvest, in the location of
harvest, contain information required
by the Department of State Health
Services under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, and remain
affixed during transportation of the
oysters to a dealer.
b. The appropriate Harvester/Shell
Recovery Tag (green or white) must
be affixed to the sack regardless of
the season or whether the requirements of 25 TAC §241.57 (relating to
Molluscan Shellfish Harvesting and
Handling) apply.
2. All commercial shipments of aquatic
products must be accompanied by an
invoice and containers must be labeled.
(See Page 18 — SHIPPING REGULATIONS.)
3. The Shipper and Receiver of commercial shipments of aquatic products must
keep the shipping invoices on file as a
record for one year from the date of
shipment. (See page 19 — RECORDS.)
4. Consumption of Clams, Mussels, and
Other Molluscan Shellfish taken from public fresh waters is prohibited by the Texas
Department of State Health Services.
5. Clams, Mussels, Oysters, and Other
Molluscan Shellfish taken from public
salt waters may be taken only from
waters approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Maps
identifying approved areas may be
obtained from the Texas Department of
State Health Services, Seafood Safety
Division (512) 834-6757. Additional
information concerning area closures
may be obtained 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week by calling (800) 685-0361.
CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES
Fish and shellfish can be a source of highquality protein in your diet. Fish and shellfish,
however, can accumulate contaminants
from the waters in which they live. The
Texas Department of State Health Services
(TDSHS) monitors fish in the state for the
presence of environmental contaminants and
alerts the public through bans and advisories
when a threat to human health may occur
from the consumption of contaminated fish.
In waters with consumption bans, possession
and consumption of fish and/or shellfish is
prohibited. Catch-and-release fishing from
these areas is allowed. A consumption advisory is a recommendation to limit consumption to specified quantities, species, and sizes
of fish. For additional information, a listing
of all consumption bans and advisories, or a
listing of areas tested where no bans or advisories were issued, visit www.dshs.texas.gov/
seafood or call the TDSHS at (800) 685-0361
(shellfish) or (512) 834-6757 (fish).
RETENTION BANS ON FINFISH AND
SHELLFISH
By order of the Texas Department of State
Health Services (TDSHS) retention bans on
finfish and shellfish are in effect in the
following areas:
1.
The area of Lavaca Bay inshore of a
line beginning at the last point of land
at the northeastern approach of the
Lavaca Bay Causeway, then in a southwest direction to Aquatic Life Marker
A to Aquatic Life Marker B to Channel
Marker #12, then in a southeastern
direction to Aquatic Life Marker C to
Aquatic Life Marker D to Aquatic Life
Marker E to Channel Marker #74, then
in a northeastern direction to Aquatic
Life Marker F to the southernmost point
of land on the spoil island east of the
ship channel, is closed to the retention
of finfish and crabs. (Catch and release
of finfish and crabs is lawful. This closure is due to mercury contamination.)
2. The Donna Irrigation System in Hidalgo
County is declared a prohibited area for
the taking of all species of aquatic life.
This closure is due to elevated levels of
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found
in fish samples.
223