Some people hunt for oysters in a boat or scuba dive. Others walk in shallow areas and pick them up with their hands.

THE SEASON

Any way you search for oysters, the first thing to know is that oyster season runs weird, said Scott Bannon, director of Alabama Marine Resources.

Oyster harvesting generally begins in October and is allowed, by law, until April 30. Biologists with Marine Resources conduct pre-season surveys to estimate how many legal size and sub-legal oysters are on the reefs in addition to monitoring how much substrate is available for young oysters to attach to. They also count the number of spat, or baby oysters, on the reef. The harvest effort is monitored, and small areas are closed until MRD season goals are met.

RECREATIONAL HARVESTING

Recreational oyster catches are not required to have a license but must purchase an oyster tag from an MRD Oyster Management Station before they hit the road. Any oyster less than 3 inches in diameter across is thrown back to continue growing. Recreational oyster harvesters are also limited to 100 oysters per person per day during the days and hours the reef is open.

COMMERCIAL HARVESTING

For commercial harvesters, the process is lengthier. Professional fishermen are required to have a license and take part in a mandated education program that teaches harvesters how to keep their catch healthy and safe for consumers.

Every oyster caught is tagged, and information about where it was caught and by who is recorded. That log follows the oyster from the moment it is caught to the moment it is served on a plate.

"There needs to be traceability," Bannon said. "If someone gets sick and they attribute it to oysters, we need to track where it was harvested."

Bannon said the detailed information can help environmental managers determine whether there was something in the water that caused the issue or whether it was the result of improper handling post-harvest.

"Most illnesses," he said, "occur because of mishandling."