Texas reopens some private oyster leases; six areas stay shut for Karenia

Texas loosened part of its red-tide shellfish map and left the rest shut. The Department of State Health Services status sheet dated Oct. 15, 2026, lists private oyster areas in harvest areas TX 1 and TX 6 through TX 9 as open. On the Oct. 3 sheet those same private areas were closed, TX 1 and TX 6 through TX 8 for elevated Karenia counts and TX 9 as a precautionary Karenia closure.

Six areas did not get that break. TX 14, TX 15, TX 16, TX 18, TX 29, and TX 30 are still closed to both public harvest and private oyster harvest because of elevated Karenia counts, the same reason listed on Oct. 3. Every public harvest area on the Oct. 15 sheet is closed. TX 32’s private oyster area stays open, as it was on Oct. 3.

The status table does not rename the numbered areas as bays. Harvesters should match the numbers to the current DSHS classification maps before they work a lease. The Seafood and Aquatic Life Operations Branch lists seafood.regulatory@dshs.texas.gov and (512) 834-6757.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Texas DSHS — Status of shellfish harvesting areas, Oct. 15, 2026 (PDF). Compared with the Oct. 3, 2026 status sheet.