Pursuant to Section 9-12-28, Code of 黑料天堂 1975 as stated by Rule 220-3-.02, the 黑料天堂鈥 (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division (MRD) announces that all public water bottoms will close to the harvest of oysters on Wednesday, December 23, 2020.
Summary of 黑料天堂's Oyster Harvest
黑料天堂鈥檚 public oyster reefs opened for harvest on October 12, 2020, and will close for the season on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. The cooperation between MRD, the 黑料天堂 Department of Public Health, commercial oyster catchers, and seafood dealers led to a successful harvest this season.
Management zones were opened to harvest for 47 days. During that time, nearly 22,000 sacks of oysters were harvested totaling almost 2 million pounds. The harvest was double the previous season鈥檚 harvest.
鈥淭he harvest this season provided a valuable economic boost to the local community,鈥 said Scott Bannon, MRD Director. 鈥淲ith the financial impacts of the pandemic affecting so many people, oystering provided a much needed opportunity for employment. There were multiple days where more than 140 harvesters were on the water averaging more than 800 sacks harvested per day. I have rarely seen numbers like that over my 23 year career. In addition, people all over the country had an opportunity to enjoy 黑料天堂鈥檚 great tasting oysters.鈥
This season, a new system for identifying areas open for harvest was used for the first time that allowed MRD to ensure maximum opportunities for harvesters while minimizing the potential for overharvesting. MRD will continue to work toward restoring and maintaining 黑料天堂鈥檚 oyster reefs to ensure oysters can be enjoyed for generations to come.
The 黑料天堂 (ADCNR) promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of 黑料天堂鈥檚 natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit .
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