The start of fall on the Alabama Gulf Coast means it's oyster season.

The Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will open certain areas of public oyster bottoms for weekday harvest beginning Monday, Oct. 7, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Harvesters can view their locations and the open harvest areas with Alabama's Oyster Management Station (OMS) Oyster Grid Map (attached graphic). A link to the map is available at www.outdooralabama.com/oysterharvest.

Harvesters are reminded to visit the Oyster Management Stations located across from Jemison's Bait and Tackle (16871 Dauphin Island Parkway, Coden, AL 36523) or Delta Port Boat Launch (5080 Green Drive, Coden, AL 36523) to drop off their OMS ID cards and confirm which grids are open for harvest prior to the start of their harvesting trip.

Cedar Point East grids will open on Monday, Oct. 7, according to a news release.

Additional grids will be opened to harvest sometime after Oct. 7. Information related to grid openings and closings will be posted at OMS locations and on MRD social media sites.

All commercial oyster catchers, regardless of age, must have a commercial oyster catcher's license to participate in the harvest. For information about licensing and regulations, contact MRD at (251) 861-2882 or visit the MRD office located at 2 North Iberville Drive, on Dauphin Island.

Recreational oyster tags: Recreational oyster catchers must report their catch and purchase a recreational harvest tag at an OMS station. Recreational harvesters may take up to 100 legal-size (minimum 3 inches) oysters in the same open grids during the same times as commercial harvest. No license is required but commercial and recreational oysters may not be transported together on a vessel.

Harvest limits: Commercial oyster catchers may harvest a maximum of eight sacks per person/vessel/per day regardless of how many licensed harvesters are aboard. Recreational oyster catchers may harvest 100 legal-size oysters per person/per day. Recreational harvest may only occur in areas and at times that are open for commercial harvest.

Harvest method: Tong and hand only.

Management station location: Cedar Point Cutoff across from Jemison's Bait and Tackle and Delta Port Boat Launch.

Management station hours: Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Management station contact: (251) 257-9966