Alabama’s limited wild oyster season will open Nov. 2, giving commercial and recreational harvesters access to three designated areas near Dauphin Island as state officials continue to monitor low oyster populations.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Division announced in a news release that the season will open in the Cedar Point East, Cedar Point West and Heron Bay grids. Harvesting will be allowed Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The three harvest areas are near the north end of the causeway leading to the Dauphin Island Bridge.

No closing date has been set. Officials will use daily reports collected through the division’s Oyster Management Stations to determine when the season should end and whether individual harvest areas need to close sooner.

Marine Resources Division surveys in 2026 found that oyster populations on Alabama’s public reefs remain low. Since the early 2000s, oysters have faced several environmental challenges, including extended droughts, flooding rains in the Mobile Bay watershed and extreme summer heat.

These conditions can adversely affect oyster populations. The division will closely monitor oyster landings throughout the season to determine when and which grids should close.

HARVEST RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

Commercial oyster harvesters, regardless of age, must have a commercial oyster catcher’s license. Commercial harvest is limited to eight sacks per person, per vessel, per day, regardless of how many licensed harvesters are aboard.

Harvesting is permitted by tong and hand only.

Recreational harvesters do not need a license but must report their catch and purchase a recreational harvest tag at an Oyster Management Station. They may take up to 100 legal-size oysters per person per day, with a minimum size of 3 inches.

Recreational harvesting is restricted to the same grids and hours open to commercial harvesters. Commercial and recreational oysters cannot be transported together on the same vessel.

Harvesters can view open areas and their locations within the designated grids using the Marine Resources Division’s Oyster Management Station Oyster Grid Map, available through www.outdooralabama.com.

Before beginning a harvesting trip, harvesters must visit the Oyster Management Station across from Jemison’s Bait and Tackle to drop off their Oyster Management Station ID cards and verify which grids are open. Information about grid openings and closures will be posted at the station and on the division’s social media accounts.

OYSTER MANAGEMENT STATION INFORMATION

The Oyster Management Station is located at 16871 Dauphin Island Parkway in Coden. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and can be reached at (251) 257-9966.

For information about commercial licensing and regulations, contact the Marine Resources Division at (251) 861-2882 or visit its office at 2 North Iberville Drive in Dauphin Island.