Promoting Oyster Mariculture in Texas

For years, commercial oyster harvesting in Texas was limited to dredging natural reefs. In 2019, the Texas legislature passed a law legalizing oyster mariculture, a method in which farmers raise and harvest oysters in cages under highly regulated rules and safety guidelines.

In April 2022, Texas conducted its first commercial harvest of oysters using this new mariculture method, marking a significant change in harvesting practices and making moves to protect our coastline from environmental disaster and our oyster population from further decline. Since then, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has issued permits for numerous oyster farms along the coast. 

Click here to see map of permitted and pending oyster farm sites.

While not considered a completely new fishery, the introduction of oyster mariculture in the State of Texas is considered a major milestone because:

• It is a new, sustainable form of seafood production that does not rely on harvesting from wild reefs using outdated and destructive dredging practices.
• It introduced a new way of doing business for Texas seafood producers, with the potential for significant growth given proper investment and sustained support.
• It created a new legal and regulatory framework that had not existed in Texas previously.

The Texas Surf Conservancy strives to promote oyster mariculture by showcasing fresh, farmed Texas oysters at industry and community events across the state.

Texas Restaurant Show

For the past two years, the Texas Surf Conservancy has made it a priority to share fresh, farmed oysters with members and guests of the Texas Restaurant Association’s annual trade show. In July 2025, we traveled to Houston to showcase farmed oysters from Big Tree Oyster Company and Blackjack Point Oyster Company. We also featured an oyster presentation on the “Taste of Texas” Culinary Stage with Chef Bobby Matos.