Oyster season will open Tuesday

The oyster season opens at legal sunrise on Nov. 10 and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced the season will end on Dec. 12.

The following conditionally approved waters will be open for harvest:

n Area II A (tonging only): Northern portions of the Henderson Point and Pass Christian reefs are included.

n Area II B: Portions of the St. Stanislaus and Waveland tonging reefs are included.

n Area II D (tonging only): Public reefs located between the U.S. 90 Bridge and the CSX Railroad Bridge are included.

The following conditionally approved waters will be open for tonging or dredging:

n Area I B: The Josephs, or St. Joe, Reef included.

n Area II E: Southern portions of the Henderson Point and Square Handkerchief reefs are included.

n Areas II F: Southern portions of the Pass Christian Reef are included.

The dredging season currently is scheduled to close at 4 p.m. Dec. 12.

"We opened a limited oyster season this year, and we want our oystermen to be able to harvest this seafood that is so popular at this time of year," DMR Public Affairs Director Melissa Scallan said.

"We are monitoring the reefs closely, as well as weather conditions and will make changes to the season if necessary."

The commercial daily limit for tonging is seven sacks, and the daily commercial limit for dredging will be 10 sacks. The limit for recreational harvesters is three sacks per licensed resident in a seven-day period.

All Mississippi waters and public or private reef areas are closed on Sundays and the following holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's.

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 10:29 PM with the headline "Oyster season will open Tuesday ."