The Texas Shellfish Harvest Area Viewer is an interactive map that allows users to identify shellfish harvest areas, shellfish harvest area boundary markers, bay water monitoring stations, and private oyster leases throughout the Texas Gulf Coast.

The status of shellfish harvest areas in Texas estuaries is subject to change by the Texas Department of State Health Services at any time. These changes may be due to high rainfall and runoff, flooding, hurricanes and other extreme weather conditions, major spills, harmful algal blooms, or the failure or inefficient operation of wastewater treatment facilities.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department may also take actions to close shellfish harvest area(s) due to shellfish resource concerns or enforcement issues.

Because the status of shellfish harvest areas may change daily, it is important that commercial and recreational shellfish harvesters verify the status of the shellfish harvest areas before harvesting shellfish. The status of shellfish harvest areas can be obtained from the Shellfish Status Web page, the Seafood and Aquatic Life Group at (512) 834-6757 or by calling, in state only, toll-free, (800) 685-0361.

To find more information on the map, simply zoom into the area of interest and click on a shellfish marker, bay water monitoring station, or shellfish harvesting area. Click on any of the previously mentioned map features and a pop-up window will appear with more information about that feature. Shellfish harvest area legal boundary descriptions may be obtained by zooming into a shellfish harvest area of interest either classified as 'Approved' or 'Conditionally Approved'. Click on a shellfish harvest area classified as 'Approved' or 'Conditionally Approved' and a pop-up window will appear with information about the shellfish harvest area. The shellfish harvest area legal boundary description may be obtained by clicking on the link 'More Info'. This link will download a pdf file containing a map and legal boundary description of the shellfish harvesting area. For most computers the downloaded pdf will appear in a box on the lower left of your computer monitor, simply click on the box to open the map and legal boundary description.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is responsible for commercial (including private oyster lease) and recreational oyster regulations (e.g., seasons and length and possession limits).All coastal and inland waters not specifically designated as Approved, Conditionally Approved, Prohibited, or Restricted are classified as Prohibited and are closed to the harvesting of molluscan shellfish.

Definitions

Approved - a classification used to identify a growing area where harvest for direct marketing is allowed.

Conditionally Approved - a classification used to identify a growing area which meets the criteria for the approved classification except under certain conditions described in a management plan.

Prohibited - a classification used to identify a growing area where the harvest of shellstock for any purpose, except depletion or gathering of seed for aquaculture, is not permitted.

Restricted - a classification used to identify a growing area where harvesting shall be by special license and the shellstock, following harvest, is subjected to a suitable and effective treatment process through relaying or depuration (Restricted harvesting areas are closed to the harvesting of shellfish for direct marketing).

• Relaying - means to transfer shellstock from a growing area classified as restricted to a growing area classified as approved or conditionally approved for the purpose of reducing pathogens as measured by the coliform indicator group or poisonous or deleterious substances that may present in shellstock by using the ambient environment (i.e., growing area classified as approved or conditionally approved and opened to harvest of shellstock) as the treatment process.
  
• Depuration or Depurate - means the process of reducing the pathogenic organisms that may be present in shellstock by using a controlled aquatic environment (i.e., growing area classified as approved or conditionally approved and opened to harvest of shellstock) as the treatment process.