CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A seasonal favorite looks to be in short supply this year.
Texas Parks and Wildlife is moving to halt oyster harvesting in areas across the state. On the list is San Antonio Bay, which will be closed to the practice beginning Sunday.
The wildlife department says it's due to a low number of legal sized oysters to harvest.
The problem could be attributed to a number of weather-related events, including storms that affect salinity or increase runoff into the bay. Harvesting activities themselves could also play a part.
Jennifer Pollack with the Harte Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi told 3NEWS Texas Parks and Wildlife monitors the oyster population during the season to keep their finger on the pulse of any changes.
"It's all about balance," Pollack explained. "Everybody wants to see more oysters in the water, so we have the harvesters that are collecting oysters so we can have suppliers for our seafood. And we have those of us who are working in restoration who can help go back in and try to reinstate those ecological and economic benefits when they're lost."
Texas Parks and Wildlife plans to reopen San Antonio Bay once their collected samples meet the required threshold.
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