TPWD OYSTER PROPOSAL

TPWD is seeking support for their two oyster management proposals. Please take approximately 2 minutes and “support” the proposals electronically @ https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/202211_oysters.phtml
For additional information concerning the proposals check out CCA Texas - Coastal Conservation Association
& Diverse Anglers Mutual Respect - FlatsWorthy Inc. Many of the oyster fishermen believe they are incapable of over harvesting oysters and are fighting against TPWD’s proposals. Many commercial fishermen believe the oyster reefs should be knocked down or flattened to allow them to treat an oyster reef as a farm field. Over 300 other species of animals depend upon oyster reefs as part of their habitat. Please “support” the proposals and get your family and friends to do the same. Sustainability is the key!

They have just beat San Antonio bay flat. I don’t know the exact right answer but unrestrained isn’t working.

I like to see more scientific data before I support harvesting restrictions.

From 2011 to 2018 I was on a team of scientists studying the impact of oyster populations in Calcasieu estuary in Louisiana. We provided a lot more science than I see here to convince the Louisiana legislature to increase harvest restrictions until the oysters recovered. We worked with LDWF on the project.

One thing in TX that I want to see is more data on is how much depredation by black drum these reefs are experiencing. It doesn't make sense to strongly restrict harvest if the black drum destruction is just going to wipe out any gains. Also, it is worth considering how much benefit the reefs would see from increased harvest of black drum.

There is a lot of science supporting the closures. Some can be found on the CCA Texas website, Flatsworthy website, Harte Research Institute (Doctor Jennifer Pollack), the past history of other states losing oyster reef habitat, and TPWD’s website in conjunction with their public comment explanation of the biological importance of their proposals. TPWD commissioners will hear the public’s comments on Nov. 3rd in Austin. It is reported that 85% of the oyster reefs have already been depleted in Texas and many other states. The Chesapeake Bay area has been trying to rebuild their reefs which have been degraded at a huge expense to the taxpayer. In Texas we hope to protect the reefs before they are all gone and need to be rebuilt. I have witnessed some oyster reefs disappear due to over harvesting and most of the reefs vertical relief have decreased drastically over the last 30 years. Oyster reefs have been in our coastal waters for ever and many of of large reefs are estimated to be from 1,000 to 2,000 years old. If we do not do something soon it will be too late to protect the reefs with management and they will have to be rebuilt at a large cost to everyone. Many of our large reefs are harvested to a level where their vertical relief is so small a storm or hurricane event could cover them with silt. Some in the commercial industry have stated in the pubic meetings they can NOT over harvest the reefs and they want to regulate themselves. Over 300 other species of animals use oyster reefs as their habitat and we are not just concerned with oyster but the whole bays ecological condition. Please search out and find the science to make your educated vote before the Nov 3rd meeting.

First my Alaskan crabs and now my oysters? 😢 What am I supposed to eat?

I'll take pictures of the swarm of oyster boats working San Antonio bay. These are not locals, they're from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Did I say swarm? That would be a understatement. Armada would be closer. They have flattened the reefs, and it's not going to return quickly.

Do the math, there's about three hundred oyster boats working out of Seadrift, each one can get 1,000 lbs each. Ten years ago, there were about 40 boats.

Very valid points. Please “support”. TPWD’s proposals and get everyone to do the same. Public support is crucial since the commercial industry is against it!

We were at Second Chain in San Antonio Bay n12/31/21 cleaning up the rookery islands. We counted over 30 boats raking that reef complex. Water was muddied up, and trash from the boats was floating around the islands. It was disgusting, and I appreciate all the people and organizations working to put a stop to the over-exploitation of our local resources.

i have heard rumors about the closures being permanent. any truth to this?

There are two closures proposed. One proposal is permanent and the other closure is temporary. The permanent closure is within an area around Cedar Bayou which is a fish pass out to the Gulf of Mexico and is a very biologically sensitive area. The second proposal includes oyster reefs which have been restored due to past degradation such as over harvest. Reef restoration is extremely expensive and TPWD would rather protect our reefs before they need to be restored. Many commercial fishermen want to “self regulate” the oyster reefs and falsely believe the oyster reefs can not be over harvested!

Very true! Oyster reefs with a high vertical profile provide shoreline protection, reduce turbidity (clean the water), act as a baffle in a storm, provide habitat to over 300 species of marine animals, serve as rookery habitat for many birds, sequester carbon, and much more. Sustainability is a major key to the proper management of our oyster reefs not just producing oysters for human consumption.

Please don’t forget to “support” TPWD’s oyster proposals electronically by 5 pm today. The commission meeting is tomorrow (Nov. 3rd) in Austin! Some commercial fishermen desire to regulate themselves and they state an oyster reef can not be over harvested. Some commercial fishermen have stated they will not over harvest a reef because if there are not enough oysters on the reef, the commercial fishermen will not harvest the area due to economics. Sounds like the “fox wanting to guard the hen house”!

Letting the commercial fishermen regulate anything is like my old partner said: "Like letting Col. Sanders babysit your chickens". See how well the commercial red snapper fishermen regulate the recreational catch limits. Ha! Maybe Brad Lomax's oyster farm in Copano Bay will lead to many more down the road. IslandJim

I certainly hope so! Harvesting oysters from mariculture sites and leases can help reduce the harvest from our public reefs. There are already a couple of new oyster mariculture sites in the permitting process. Sustainability is the key!!!

One reef this morning. Someone explain how this isn't killing the reefs?

It's killing them for certain. Many of the oystermen that spoke were trying to ask TPWD why they are forcing all 500 boats into a 600 acre area? The oystermen could not fathom that there are no keeper oysters left in the other regions of the state. The way I see this issue, the writing is on the wall. The entire gulf is closed except for hand oystering only in Miss, half of LA is open, and 7 out of 37 zones in Texas open IIRC and that was before this closure. Guess where all those oyster boats came for the last few seasons?

That should be some sort of indicator that these practices are not sustainable. The oystermen all said their Grampa and Dad never had to deal with this. Most of the Mississippi fleet was here 2 years ago and decimated San Antonio bay. I had never seen the harbor that full of boats. I wonder what the effect would be if we closed Texas to only Texas Oyster licenses? Is that even possible at this point? Even that would be too little too late. I know there is an increased buyback program.

Mariculture and private leases are going to be what saves a small portion of the industry IMHO. The rest will go the way of the sawfish or the Port A tarpon fishery.

Well, Scott: TPWD announced that they are closing Josephine's Reef for two years and some other areas for one year. What about the out-of-state oystermen? Does this mean they will over-fish other areas? Do they pay a steep price for their Texas licenses? Lots of questions still. We hope the oyster farm development hurries and helps the problem. That won't provide jobs for the dredgers, but maybe they can go back to their states and get jobs doing something else. Keep us informed, if you can. Maybe Pat can get a picture of them putting away! IslandJim

The commercial fishermen are just killers. Just blood money. It does not matter the country. They will work themselves out of a job if you let them.

if you watch lone star law its a miracle there are any resources left between folks not having any idea of bag limits to commercial fishermen with no licenses not caring if the oysters are keeper size or not. its a safe bet if you dont have a license you dont care about the rest of the laws.