BILOXI, Miss. — After enduring a significant oil spill over a decade ago and facing years of destructive flooding, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is set to welcome its first oyster harvesting season since 2018.

The season is scheduled to commence at sunrise on November 13 and will span just 10 days, according to a statement released by the state Department of Marine Resources.

Harvest limits have been established, allowing commercial oyster tonging and dredging vessels to take up to 10 sacks each. For recreational harvesters, there is a limit of three sacks per licensed resident during the seven-day window.

This seasonal opening coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday, a time when many residents eagerly anticipate adding oysters to their festive meals.

The state has poured millions into oyster reef restoration efforts since the BP oil spill in 2010. However, subsequent flooding events have severely impacted the oyster populations by lowering the salinity levels in the Mississippi Sound, making it untenable for oysters to survive, as reported by the local newspaper.

In 2019, the situation worsened when water from the Mississippi River was released through the Bonnet Carré Spillway in Louisiana, resulting in the death of nearly all oysters on the state’s most productive reefs located in the western sound.

Joe Spraggins, the director of the Department of Marine Resources, noted that recent monitoring has indicated positive growth in oyster populations over the last couple of years. He expressed readiness to open a restricted season in select areas. “The season is to provide some access to the industry and get Mississippi oysters on the market,” he stated.

With this abbreviated season in place, Spraggins emphasized the importance of preventing overfishing of fragile reefs to ensure the ongoing growth and sustainability of the oysters.