TPWD Updates Oyster Farming Rules, Closes Areas in Galveston Bay

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved revisions to the rules for oyster farming in Texas and authorized temporary closures of two oyster restoration sites in Galveston Bay to protect reef health and support oyster population recovery.

The new regulations for the state’s Cultivated Oyster Mariculture (COM) program were adopted on Nov. 7, during a TPWD meeting in Corpus Christi. Since the first official harvest in April 2022, the state’s 12 oyster farms have produced over 1.7 million mariculture oysters. The rule changes aim to reduce regulatory burdens and align Texas operations with federal guidelines, according to Robin Riechers, director of TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division.

“Oyster mariculture is a growing industry in Texas that offers a sustainable option for local businesses to bring Texas oysters to consumers,” Riechers said. “The updated rules make mariculture operations easier and provide greater market access while ensuring compliance with federal standards.”

The commission also approved the temporary closure of two significant oyster restoration areas in Galveston Bay—Desperation Reef and Dollar Reef—which encompass a combined 153 acres. The closure will last two harvest seasons, with public harvesting set to resume on Nov. 1, 2026. TPWD said these temporary closures will give recently restored reefs time to grow and stabilize, supporting healthier long-term oyster populations.

TPWD monitoring has shown that temporarily closed reefs can achieve better health and sustainability than those open to continuous harvesting. Reefs closed for at least two years show comparable resilience to non-restored reefs even years later.