16-03-CWS | January 15, 2016
BILOXI, Miss. – The Oyster Recovery Program initiated by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will begin at legal sunrise Monday, Jan. 18.
MDMR officials will open Area I B – St. Joe Reef – and all commercial fishermen who have been approved will be allowed to catch and transport oysters from this reef. The harvested oysters will be put on barges outside Bayou Caddy and transported either to reefs in the eastern portion of Pass Christian or in Biloxi Bay.
“This program will operate similar to a regular oyster season,” said MDMR Executive Director Jamie Miller. “Fishermen will check in at the check stations, go to the oyster reef, catch the oysters and offload at the designated barge.
”Fishermen will not be required to become contractors of the state; therefore will not need to purchase general liability insurance,” he added. “Because of this, more fishermen will be able to participate in this program.”
Fishermen should report to the Pass Christian Check Station or the Bayou Caddy Check Station before going to the reef. They also are required to check out after making their catch. The limit is 200 sacks of oysters per boat per day.
For more information, go to dmr.ms.gov or call the 24-hour Oyster Information Hotline at 228-374-5167 or 1-800-385-5902.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.
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