The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced that oyster season will close at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. This applies to all public water bottoms, according to Alabama law.

The 2024 oyster season opened on October 7, giving commercial oyster catchers 58 days to harvest. During this time, approximately 25,000 sacks of oysters—equaling nearly 2.1 million pounds—will have been collected. The total value of the harvest is estimated to exceed $1.5 million.

Scott Bannon, Director of the Marine Resources Division (MRD), said each oyster season brings unique challenges. “Last year, oyster reefs experienced high mortality due to oyster drills,” Bannon said. Oyster drills are predatory snails that thrive when salinity levels rise, often caused by low rainfall.

To help commercial harvesters this year, daily limits increased from six to eight sacks, as dockside prices remained low. On average, harvesters collected 448 sacks per day, amounting to about 38,000 pounds of oysters daily. “We are thankful that local catchers were able to earn more money this year and provide Alabama oysters to state and national markets,” Bannon added.

The MRD has implemented new survey methods to better estimate seasonal harvests and guide restoration efforts. These strategies aim to ensure Alabama’s oyster reefs remain sustainable for future generations.

Looking ahead, ADCNR will use $10 million in funding from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Settlement to support oyster restoration projects. Work funded by the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) program is scheduled to begin in 2025.

The ADCNR promotes stewardship and responsible enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through its Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife divisions. For more information, visit www.outdooralabama.com.