44
2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
OYSTERS
NOTICES –
1. For changes to the 2017-2018 commercial oyster season, please visit the Texas
Parks and Wildlife website (www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/commercial/) or call
(512) 389-4649.
2. As authorized by Section 3 of SB 932, the executive director of the department may close
an oyster area upon finding that the area is being overworked or damaged, or if the area needs
to be reseeded or restocked. Information on closures will be available at all TPWD offices.
3. A Harvester/Shell Recovery 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.
4. 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.
Commercial Oystering Seasons—Nov. 1
through Apr. 30 except in all private leases
with permits from the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department where there is no closed
season. During open season, oysters may be
taken only from sunrise to 3:30 p.m.,
Monday–Saturday.
Commercial Oyster Limits—The bag limit
is 40 sacks of oysters per day. A sack is
defined as no more than 110 pounds of
oysters (including dead oyster shell and the
sack).
Legal Size Limits—Three (3) inches (greatest
length of shell) or larger. Oysters 3/4 inch
to 3 inches and dead oyster shell greater
than 3/4 inch (measured along any axis) are
to be culled and returned to the reef from
which taken; provided, however, that each
cargo may contain not more than 15 percent
of oysters and/or dead shell of these sizes.
Not more than the equivalent six sacks of
unculled oysters are permitted on board
while on a reef and must remain unsacked
and separate from the culled cargo.
Legal Means and Methods—It is UNLAWFUL
while taking or attempting to take oysters
for pay or the purpose of sale, barter or
exchange or any other commercial purpose
to use more than one dredge, use a dredge
which exceeds 48 inches in width and a twobarrel capacity, have more than one dredge
connected in any manner to a winch, chain
or other lifting device during the open public
season; or have any additional dredge(s)
on board unless secured below deck, to the
wheelhouse or to the deck in such a manner
as to be lashed, tied, shackled or chained as
to prevent its immediate use. Commercial
oyster boats are limited to not more than 40
sacks of legal size oysters.
Special Provisions—Oysters may be taken
only from waters approved by the State
Commissioner of the Department of State
Health Services.
NEW: Repeated convictions for undersized
oyster violations may result in a Class B
Misdemeanor penalty for captain and crew,
and license suspensions may apply. License
suspensions for repeated violations may
apply to captain, crew, oyster boat, and
the purchasing wholesale dealer (certified
shellfish shipper).
NOTE: The penalty for a commercial
oyster boat taking oysters in a restricted
area is a Parks and Wildlife Class A Misdemeanor (See Page 45 — CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND CIVIL VALUE RECOVERY) and
everyone on the vessel will be in violation.
The harvesting, shucking, processing and
sale of oysters must conform to all regulations specified by the Texas Department of
State Health Services.
265
2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
OYSTERS
NOTICES –
1. For changes to the 2017-2018 commercial oyster season, please visit the Texas
Parks and Wildlife website (www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/commercial/) or call
(512) 389-4649.
2. As authorized by Section 3 of SB 932, the executive director of the department may close
an oyster area upon finding that the area is being overworked or damaged, or if the area needs
to be reseeded or restocked. Information on closures will be available at all TPWD offices.
3. A Harvester/Shell Recovery 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.
4. 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.
Commercial Oystering Seasons—Nov. 1
through Apr. 30 except in all private leases
with permits from the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department where there is no closed
season. During open season, oysters may be
taken only from sunrise to 3:30 p.m.,
Monday–Saturday.
Commercial Oyster Limits—The bag limit
is 40 sacks of oysters per day. A sack is
defined as no more than 110 pounds of
oysters (including dead oyster shell and the
sack).
Legal Size Limits—Three (3) inches (greatest
length of shell) or larger. Oysters 3/4 inch
to 3 inches and dead oyster shell greater
than 3/4 inch (measured along any axis) are
to be culled and returned to the reef from
which taken; provided, however, that each
cargo may contain not more than 15 percent
of oysters and/or dead shell of these sizes.
Not more than the equivalent six sacks of
unculled oysters are permitted on board
while on a reef and must remain unsacked
and separate from the culled cargo.
Legal Means and Methods—It is UNLAWFUL
while taking or attempting to take oysters
for pay or the purpose of sale, barter or
exchange or any other commercial purpose
to use more than one dredge, use a dredge
which exceeds 48 inches in width and a twobarrel capacity, have more than one dredge
connected in any manner to a winch, chain
or other lifting device during the open public
season; or have any additional dredge(s)
on board unless secured below deck, to the
wheelhouse or to the deck in such a manner
as to be lashed, tied, shackled or chained as
to prevent its immediate use. Commercial
oyster boats are limited to not more than 40
sacks of legal size oysters.
Special Provisions—Oysters may be taken
only from waters approved by the State
Commissioner of the Department of State
Health Services.
NEW: Repeated convictions for undersized
oyster violations may result in a Class B
Misdemeanor penalty for captain and crew,
and license suspensions may apply. License
suspensions for repeated violations may
apply to captain, crew, oyster boat, and
the purchasing wholesale dealer (certified
shellfish shipper).
NOTE: The penalty for a commercial
oyster boat taking oysters in a restricted
area is a Parks and Wildlife Class A Misdemeanor (See Page 45 — CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND CIVIL VALUE RECOVERY) and
everyone on the vessel will be in violation.
The harvesting, shucking, processing and
sale of oysters must conform to all regulations specified by the Texas Department of
State Health Services.
265