Oyster areas closed to harvesting Dec. 20

BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced that oyster areas in the western portion of the Mississippi Sound were closed to dredging as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The Commission on Marine Resources voted at its Dec. 13 meeting to open the areas for a five-day period that would end no later than Dec. 22.

The areas closed are:

Conditionally Approved Area II “E” – This area includes Square Handkerchief Reef and southern portions of Henderson Point Reef.

Conditionally Approved Area II “F” – This area includes southern portions of the Pass Christian Reef.

Conditionally Approved Area II “G” – This area includes southern portions of the Pass Christian Reef and northern portions of the Pass Marianne Reef.

Approved Area II “H” – This area includes southern portions of Telegraph and Pass Marianne reefs.

Approved Area II “I” – This area includes southern portions of Pass Marianne, Pelican, Buoy and First Key reefs.

All other current rules and regulations remain in effect. For more information, call the Oyster 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.