DMR Hopeful of Opening Oyster Season
Phase one of the DMR’s emergency oyster rescue program has ended, making today the last day.
Officials made the call based on two factors: they anticipate poor weather conditions and a lack of oysters. Officials say while looking at today’s catches, there were mostly shells and no oysters. Despite ending the emergency rescue, DMR could be reopening oyster season if lab results from fresh water are clear of any toxins from the red tide algae bloom. They’re also looking at the impact of oysters from the Bonnet Carre Spillway.
DMR Public Information Officer Melissa Scallan said, “If the oyster reefs look like they will be impacted by too much fresh water, if they will be damaged, we more than likely will open the season in order to save those oysters to harvest them so we can save them and sell them. If the oysters or if the impact is not as great, then we may not.”
DMR officials tell News 25 they are hopeful in opening oyster season but still need a few days for the lab results. DMR officials told News 25 that 40,000 sacks of oysters were relocated during the three day program, a much larger number than was expected.
Officials made the call based on two factors: they anticipate poor weather conditions and a lack of oysters. Officials say while looking at today’s catches, there were mostly shells and no oysters. Despite ending the emergency rescue, DMR could be reopening oyster season if lab results from fresh water are clear of any toxins from the red tide algae bloom. They’re also looking at the impact of oysters from the Bonnet Carre Spillway.
DMR Public Information Officer Melissa Scallan said, “If the oyster reefs look like they will be impacted by too much fresh water, if they will be damaged, we more than likely will open the season in order to save those oysters to harvest them so we can save them and sell them. If the oysters or if the impact is not as great, then we may not.”
DMR officials tell News 25 they are hopeful in opening oyster season but still need a few days for the lab results. DMR officials told News 25 that 40,000 sacks of oysters were relocated during the three day program, a much larger number than was expected.
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