After a brief closure around the Thanksgiving holidays, the 2024 Mississippi oyster season will open back up for harvest on Monday, December 9.
Sunrise will mark the beginning of the new oyster harvesting period on Monday and will encompass eight approved and conditionally approved areas, according to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR).
The approved harvest areas are:
- Area I “B”– This area includes St Joe reefs
- Area II “A”– This area includes the Pass Christian Tonging Box
- Area II “B,”– This area includes Waveland and St. Stanislaus reefs
- Area II “E”– This area includes Henderson Point reefs
- Area II “F”– This area includes Pass Dredging reefs
- Area II “G”– This area includes Pass Marianne reefs
- Area II “H”– This area includes Telegraph reefs
- Area II “I”– This area includes Pelican reefs
Oyster season in the specified waters will be limited to a maximum of 11 harvest days. These areas will open to harvest provided they meet all criteria for opening as specified in Title 22 – Mississippi Department of Marine Resources – Part 1 Rules and Regulations for Molluscan Shellfish Related Activities.
Daily harvest limits will be set at ten sacks per commercial tonging vessel and 15 sacks per commercial oyster dredging vessel. All recreational harvest is limited to three sacks per recreationally licensed resident individual per seven day period.
MDMR will have check stations at 104 South Market Street in the Pass Christian Harbor and 5200 Shipyard Road in Bayou Caddy. All fishermen must check-in prior to harvest at a designated check station or drop box.
For more information, call the MDMR Oyster Hotline at (228)374-5167 or (1800)385-5902.
