Mississippi moves forward with private leasing for oyster harvesting

You might have Mississippi oysters back on your plate next year.

Mississippi was once the oyster harvesting capital, but multiple disasters have depleted the supply.

There’s been no public oyster harvesting since 2018, but more privatized harvesting is coming after Senate bill 2544 passed this year.

Private businesses will lease water bottoms from the state to cultivate and harvest oysters as they see fit.

As part of the lease agreement, the fishermen must maintain the health of the reef and can not harvest an oyster smaller than three inches.

The goal is to increase production without depleting the supply.

The Department of Marine Resources will be overseeing and monitoring this process.

“We intend to work with these leaseholders, and we will encourage them to, and require them to, develop their leases and water bottoms responsibly and appropriately according to the senate bill that was passed this past year,” said Jason Rider, shellfish bureau director. “The Department of Marine Resources will also continue to restore and enhance our natural water bottoms to promote recruitment of oysters and increase production.”

This plan, while still in the early stages, is similar to Louisiana’s private lease program that has been established since 2016. If it goes well, Mississippi could see more private leases in the future.