Successful Oyster Season Closes

The Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced that all public water bottoms will close to the harvest of oysters today at 2 p.m. The season, which has been open since October 2, 2023, saw more than 32,000 sacks of oysters harvested, totaling almost 2.7 million pounds with an approximate dockside value of more than $1.2 million. “This season has been very successful and built on the successes of the previous four years,” said Scott Bannon, MRD Director. “Utilizing our harvest grid system, we were able to monitor small areas and appropriately close them for sustainability, while keeping harvesters working more days in other locations. Accurate harvest reporting was a vital part of the season’s length. I appreciate the reporting efforts of the harvesters and the efforts of our staff to effectively monitor and manage the season. The dockside price paid per pound of oysters was more variable than last year, but harvesters were able to harvest and sell their catch for a profit, which is beneficial to the families and the local economy.”