17-55-MMS| September 28, 2017
BILOXI, Miss. – The state’s oyster season opens Monday, Oct. 2, in Area V “A,” which includes Biloxi Bay Reef, officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced Thursday.
The Biloxi Bay Reef will open at legal sunrise to tonging only. When the oyster harvest reaches 30 percent, the reef will be closed. No other reefs in Biloxi Bay will be open.
The oyster check station will be located at the Ocean Springs Harbor, 1709 Harbor Landing Road. The check station will be open until fishermen reach the 30 percent quota.
Beginning at legal sunrise Monday, Nov. 13, reefs in conditionally approved waters located in the western Mississippi Sound will open for tonging and dredging. At its September meeting, the Commission on Marine Resources also approved a 30 percent quota for these reefs.
The daily sack limit for tonging is 15 sacks, and the limit for dredging is 20 sacks. Public and private oyster reefs in Mississippi will be closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
For more information, call the MDMR 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.
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