DSHS Recalls Oysters Harvested in Area of Southeastern Galveston Bay
The Texas Department of State Health Services has ordered a recall of all oysters harvested in the TX 1 area of southeastern Galveston Bay after reports of a few dozen cases of gastrointestinal illness among people who ate oysters from those waters. The recall includes oysters in the shell and shucked oysters harvested in the area from Nov. 17 through Dec. 7. A map of Galveston Bay oyster areas is available at
dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/seafood/MapsPDF/ShellfishClassificationMaps/Galcombined2022.pdf .
Consumers who purchased Texas oysters since Nov. 17 should check the packaging to see if they were harvested in TX 1. If the oysters were unpackaged, they should contact the seller to find the source. Restaurants should contact their distributor for information on the source of their oysters. Any oysters from TX 1 should be discarded.
DSHS closed the TX 1 area to harvesting on Dec. 8 after receiving reports from health departments in Southeast Texas and Florida that people who had consumed oysters from the area had gotten sick. Reported symptoms include fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, chills and headache. People experiencing any of these symptoms after eating oysters should contact their health care provider and tell them about the exposure to oysters. No hospitalizations have been reported at this time.
DSHS epidemiologists are working with local health departments to investigate cases of illness, and DSHS will test water samples collected in the recall area to determine when it may safely reopen to oyster harvesting. No other species of seafood is affected.
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(News Media Contact: pressofficer@dshs.texas.gov)
FDA Advises Restaurants, Retailers and Consumers to Avoid Potentially Contaminated Oysters from Harvest Area TX 1, Texas December 15, 2022
Audience
Restaurants and food retailers that have received shipments of oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas.
Consumers who have recently purchased oysters in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN) or Texas (TX).
Product
Oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN) and Texas (TX). It is possible that additional states received these oysters through further distribution.
Packaged oysters include harvest area information on the packaging.
Purpose
The FDA is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of oysters that were harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas due to possible norovirus contamination. These oysters were sold in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN) and Texas (TX). Consumers who purchased oysters after November 17 should check the packaging to see if they were harvested in TX 1. Contaminated oysters can cause illness if eaten raw, particularly in people with compromised immune systems. Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of norovirus illness should contact their healthcare provider, who should report their symptoms to their local Health Department.
Summary of Problem and Scope The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Florida Department of Health notified the FDA of illnesses associated with the consumption of raw oysters harvested from TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. On December 8, 2022, the Texas Department of State Health Services issued a recall order for all oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas and informed the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference External Link Disclaimer who subsequently notified the other member states. Other states also initiated recall procedures consistent with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference agreement. The states are continuing to conduct trace forward investigations. The FDA is assisting with and coordinating interstate notification efforts as a result of the states’ investigations.
FDA Actions
The FDA is issuing this alert advising consumers to not eat, and restaurants and food retailers to not sell, oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas due to possible norovirus contamination. The FDA is awaiting information on further interstate distribution of the oysters and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed.
Symptoms of Norovirus
People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus. The most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms include fever, headache, and body ache.
A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.
If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill, and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses. Symptoms of dehydration include decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up. Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.
If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, call your healthcare provider.
Recommendations for Consumers
Consumers who have symptoms of norovirus should contact their healthcare provider to report their symptoms and receive care. Healthcare providers should report their patient’s symptoms to their local Health Department.
To report a complaint or adverse event, you can
Call an FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator if you wish to speak directly to a person about your problem.
Complete an electronic Voluntary MedWatch form online.
Complete a paper Voluntary MedWatch form that can be mailed to FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/fcic for additional consumer and industry assistance.
Recommendations for Restaurants and Retailers
Restaurants and retailers should not sell the potentially contaminated oysters. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any products by throwing them in the garbage or returning to their distributor for destruction.
Restaurants and retailers should also be aware that the oysters may be a source of pathogens and should control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow the steps below:
Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
Retailers that have sold bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.
Additional Information
Multistate Norovirus Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters from Texas Print Updated December 15, 2022
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Texas Department of State Health Services, and other public health partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of norovirus illnesses linked to raw oysters from Texas.
FDA Advises Restaurants, Retailers and Consumers to Avoid Potentially Contaminated Oysters from Harvest Area TX 1, Texas | FDA
Fast Facts Illnesses: 211 illnesses* have been reported as of December 15, 2022.
States affected: Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS) North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX)
Recall: Yes DSHS Recalls Oysters Harvested in Area of Southeastern Galveston Bay | Texas DSHS
Investigation Status: Active
*This number is an estimate based on the information we have at this time. CDC is working with state and local partners and will update this number as more information is gathered.
Raw Oysters and Norovirus If eaten raw, oysters and other filter-feeding shellfish can contain viruses and bacteria that can cause illness or death. Anyone who consumes raw shellfish is at risk of contracting norovirus. Children younger than five years old, the elderly, and those people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections. Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, or taste normal. To avoid food poisoning from oysters, cook them well to a temperature of at least 145 degrees F.
What Businesses Should Do Do not serve or sell raw oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas:
Restaurants and food retailers should not serve raw oysters from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas, harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022, which will be printed on product tags. The FDA has confirmed that raw oysters harvested in area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas were potentially contaminated with norovirus and distributed to restaurants and retailers in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS) North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN) and Texas (TX). It is possible that additional states received these oysters through further distribution within the U.S. Throw away any remaining oysters or return them to your distributor for destruction.
These oysters may be contaminated with norovirus. Follow these steps:
Wash and sanitize containers and surfaces that may have come into contact with these oysters. Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
What You Should Do
Do not eat any raw oysters from the areas listed above. If you have oysters at home from any of the areas listed above, throw them away. Clean any utensils or food preparation surfaces that may have touched the oysters.
If you think you might have gotten sick from eating possibly contaminated raw oysters, talk to your healthcare provider and report your illness to your local health department.
snip...
Investigation Details
CDC is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Texas Department of State Health Services, along with other state and local officials to investigate a multistate norovirus outbreak linked to raw oysters from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas.
The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Florida Department of Health notified the FDA of illnesses associated with eating raw oysters harvested from TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. On December 8, 2022, the Texas Department of State Health Services issued a recall on all oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. They also informed the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference who notified other member states. This resulted in other states initiating recall measures consistent with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference agreement.
As of December 15, 2022, 211 norovirus illnesses have been reported from 8 states. CDC is working with state and local partners to determine a more accurate number of illnesses in this outbreak and will update this number as more information is gathered.
Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States. However, state, local, and territorial health departments are not required to report individual cases of norovirus illness to a national surveillance system. That’s why we may not know about many cases, especially if people do not go to a doctor’s office or hospital. Each year, there are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks in the United States. Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April.
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate a day to four days before they got sick. In interviews, many of the sick people reported eating raw oysters.
State and local officials have collected information about the source of oysters from restaurants where sick people ate. FDA has confirmed that potentially contaminated raw oysters were harvested in area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. The FDA and the states are conducting a trace forward investigation to determine where the raw oysters were distributed and to ensure they’re removed from the food supply.
This investigation is ongoing. CDC will update the public as more information is gathered.
FDA Advises Restaurants, Retailers and Consumers to Avoid Potentially Contaminated Oysters from Harvest Area TX 1, Texas December 15, 2022
Audience
Restaurants and food retailers that have received shipments of oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas.
Consumers who have recently purchased oysters in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN) or Texas (TX).
Product
Oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN) and Texas (TX). It is possible that additional states received these oysters through further distribution.
Packaged oysters include harvest area information on the packaging.
Purpose
The FDA is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of oysters that were harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas due to possible norovirus contamination. These oysters were sold in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN) and Texas (TX). Consumers who purchased oysters after November 17 should check the packaging to see if they were harvested in TX 1. Contaminated oysters can cause illness if eaten raw, particularly in people with compromised immune systems. Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of norovirus illness should contact their healthcare provider, who should report their symptoms to their local Health Department.
Summary of Problem and Scope The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Florida Department of Health notified the FDA of illnesses associated with the consumption of raw oysters harvested from TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. On December 8, 2022, the Texas Department of State Health Services issued a recall order for all oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas and informed the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference External Link Disclaimer who subsequently notified the other member states. Other states also initiated recall procedures consistent with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference agreement. The states are continuing to conduct trace forward investigations. The FDA is assisting with and coordinating interstate notification efforts as a result of the states’ investigations.
FDA Actions
The FDA is issuing this alert advising consumers to not eat, and restaurants and food retailers to not sell, oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas due to possible norovirus contamination. The FDA is awaiting information on further interstate distribution of the oysters and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed.
Symptoms of Norovirus
People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus. The most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms include fever, headache, and body ache.
A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.
If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill, and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses. Symptoms of dehydration include decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up. Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.
If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, call your healthcare provider.
Recommendations for Consumers
Consumers who have symptoms of norovirus should contact their healthcare provider to report their symptoms and receive care. Healthcare providers should report their patient’s symptoms to their local Health Department.
To report a complaint or adverse event, you can
Call an FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator if you wish to speak directly to a person about your problem.
Complete an electronic Voluntary MedWatch form online.
Complete a paper Voluntary MedWatch form that can be mailed to FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/fcic for additional consumer and industry assistance.
Recommendations for Restaurants and Retailers
Restaurants and retailers should not sell the potentially contaminated oysters. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any products by throwing them in the garbage or returning to their distributor for destruction.
Restaurants and retailers should also be aware that the oysters may be a source of pathogens and should control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow the steps below:
Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
Retailers that have sold bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.
Additional Information
Multistate Norovirus Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters from Texas Print Updated December 15, 2022
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Texas Department of State Health Services, and other public health partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of norovirus illnesses linked to raw oysters from Texas.
FDA Advises Restaurants, Retailers and Consumers to Avoid Potentially Contaminated Oysters from Harvest Area TX 1, Texas | FDA
Fast Facts Illnesses: 211 illnesses* have been reported as of December 15, 2022.
States affected: Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS) North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX)
Recall: Yes DSHS Recalls Oysters Harvested in Area of Southeastern Galveston Bay | Texas DSHS
Investigation Status: Active
*This number is an estimate based on the information we have at this time. CDC is working with state and local partners and will update this number as more information is gathered.
Raw Oysters and Norovirus If eaten raw, oysters and other filter-feeding shellfish can contain viruses and bacteria that can cause illness or death. Anyone who consumes raw shellfish is at risk of contracting norovirus. Children younger than five years old, the elderly, and those people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections. Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, or taste normal. To avoid food poisoning from oysters, cook them well to a temperature of at least 145 degrees F.
What Businesses Should Do Do not serve or sell raw oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas:
Restaurants and food retailers should not serve raw oysters from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas, harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022, which will be printed on product tags. The FDA has confirmed that raw oysters harvested in area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas were potentially contaminated with norovirus and distributed to restaurants and retailers in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS) North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN) and Texas (TX). It is possible that additional states received these oysters through further distribution within the U.S. Throw away any remaining oysters or return them to your distributor for destruction.
These oysters may be contaminated with norovirus. Follow these steps:
Wash and sanitize containers and surfaces that may have come into contact with these oysters. Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
What You Should Do
Do not eat any raw oysters from the areas listed above. If you have oysters at home from any of the areas listed above, throw them away. Clean any utensils or food preparation surfaces that may have touched the oysters.
If you think you might have gotten sick from eating possibly contaminated raw oysters, talk to your healthcare provider and report your illness to your local health department.
snip...
Investigation Details
CDC is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Texas Department of State Health Services, along with other state and local officials to investigate a multistate norovirus outbreak linked to raw oysters from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas.
The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Florida Department of Health notified the FDA of illnesses associated with eating raw oysters harvested from TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. On December 8, 2022, the Texas Department of State Health Services issued a recall on all oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. They also informed the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference who notified other member states. This resulted in other states initiating recall measures consistent with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference agreement.
As of December 15, 2022, 211 norovirus illnesses have been reported from 8 states. CDC is working with state and local partners to determine a more accurate number of illnesses in this outbreak and will update this number as more information is gathered.
Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States. However, state, local, and territorial health departments are not required to report individual cases of norovirus illness to a national surveillance system. That’s why we may not know about many cases, especially if people do not go to a doctor’s office or hospital. Each year, there are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks in the United States. Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April.
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate a day to four days before they got sick. In interviews, many of the sick people reported eating raw oysters.
State and local officials have collected information about the source of oysters from restaurants where sick people ate. FDA has confirmed that potentially contaminated raw oysters were harvested in area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas. The FDA and the states are conducting a trace forward investigation to determine where the raw oysters were distributed and to ensure they’re removed from the food supply.
This investigation is ongoing. CDC will update the public as more information is gathered.
Shellfish Harvest Area Status and Maps
Status of Shellfish Harvesting Areas 12.13.2022
TX 1 Closed Closed Illness Report
TX 2 Closed n/a TPWD Action; Rainfall
TX 3 Closed n/a TPWD Action; Rainfall
TX 4 Closed n/a TPWD Action; Rainfall
TX 5 Closed n/a TPWD Action
TX 6 Closed Open TPWD Action
TX 7 Closed Open TPWD Action
TX 8 Open Open n/a
TX 9 Closed n/a TPWD Action
STATE OF THE BAY A Characterization of the Galveston Bay Ecosystem
snip...
TDSHS determines the status of shellfish harvest areas in Texas estuaries. Shellfish harvest areas fall into four categories: prohibited (closed to shellfish harvest), restricted (closed to the harvesting of shellfish for direct marketing), conditionally approved (subject to closure based upon precipitation or water quality conditions), and approved (open to shellfish harvest) (Figure 7). In large areas of Galveston Bay, typically near the developed shore, harvesting oysters is restricted. Some areas near the Houston Ship Channel and along developed shorelines are prohibited to shellfish harvest. Areas in which oyster harvest is approved tend to be closer to the Gulf, away from development. The status of conditionally approved areas can be changed from open to closed in response to large or extreme storm events, flooding, major contaminate spills, and red tides. Figure 7 shows the classification of Galveston Bay waters for oyster harvest in 2017.
CLASSIFICATION OF SHELLFISH HARVESTING AREAS OF GALVESTON BAY
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES SEAFOOD AND AQUATIC LIFE OPERATIONS BRANCH
DATE: NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ORDER NUMBER: MR-1767
The status of shellfish growing waters in Texas estuaries is subject to change by the Texas Department of State Health Services at any time. These changes may be due to high rainfall and runoff, flooding, hurricanes and other extreme weather conditions, major spills, red tides, or the failure or inefficient operation of wastewater treatment facilities. Current status of shellfish harvesting areas may be obtained from your local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department office or by calling, toll-free (in state only), 1-800-685-0361.
PROHIBITED AREAS: All areas not specifically designated as Prohibited, Restricted, Conditionally Approved, or Approved are classified as Prohibited and are closed to the harvesting of molluscan shellfish.
PA 1A: That area off Umbrella Point from fishing pier (29.682127° N, 94.867264° W) to fishing pier (29.675655° N, 94.869723° W) out to 300 yards offshore. PA 1B: That area off Houston Point from fishing pier (29.662091° N, 94.889700° W) to fishing pier (29.657681° N, 94.900785° W) out to 300 yards offshore.
PA 2: That area of the Houston Ship Channel and Tabbs Bay upstream of a line from the easternmost overhead power cable tower at Evergreen Point, to Cedar Bayou Channel Marker 8, to Houston Ship Channel Marker 92 to Morgan’s Point.
PA 3: That area between the single story white house with the orange tile roof (29.647220° N, -95.012700°W) and the two-story white house with the blue roof (29.640204° N, 95.015096° W) out to 300 yards offshore.
PA 4: That area between the two-story white house with the red roof (29.555195° N, 95.018661° W) and the two-story yellow house with brown roof (29.555195° N, 95.018661° W) out to 300 yards offshore.
PA 5: That area westward from a line beginning on a point of land on the north side of the Clear Lake channel entrance (29.548810° N, 95.017800° W) southward to a point of land on the south side of the Clear Lake Channel entrance (29.548030° N, 95.017000° W).
PA 6: That area between the white house with orange tile roof (29.537629° N, 95.013086° W) and the boat ramp by the painted beach barn (29.531671° N, 95.008295° W) out to 500 yards offshore.
PA 7: That area between the three-story white house with blue roof (29.524713° N, 95.000978° W) and the fishing pier with the red roof (29.516015° N, 94.987748° W) out to 500 yards offshore.
PA 8: That area between the three-story house with orange tile roof (29.507818° N, 94.963633° W) and southeast end of Spillway Park out to 400 yards offshore.
PA 9: That area of Dickinson Bayou upstream from the fishing pier with the blue roof (29.475362° N, 94.947175° W) to Dickinson Bayou Channel Marker 27 to a point of land (29.467120° N, 94.951779° W).
PA 10: That area of Moses Lake east of a line from north shoreline (29.432740° N, 94.905760° W) to the south shoreline (29.421199° N, 94.905089° W).
All residential subdivision channels and harbor areas up to a radius of 300 yards offshore from the shoreline where the channels become land bound.
All areas within a 50-yard radius of recreational cabins and houseboats located on the bay.
All marked areas around transient or temporarily occupied structures (such as manned drilling rigs) which are potential pollution sources, but which are not indicated on this map because of their transient nature. These areas are described by separate Marine Order. Details can be obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
RESTRICTED AREAS: (closed to the harvesting of shellfish for direct marketing)
The area of East Galveston Bay east of a line from a point on shore (29.571065° N, 94.572865° W), south to the tide gauge piling at Marsh Point, to a point on shore (29.524429° N, 94.578692° W) of Marsh Point.
All of the Intracoastal Waterway where it becomes land bound at Bolivar Peninsula.
All area South of a line beginning at the Port Bolivar Lighthouse, to Houston Ship Channel (HSC) Marker #25, to the end of the Texas City Dike. All areas excluding the prohibited areas described above and inshore of a line from the Dollar Point shoreline, to Dollar Point Shellfish Marker, to GAL Shellfish Marker (SM) UU, to GAL SM U, to Dickinson Channel Marker 4, to GAL SM T, to GAL SM S, to GAL SM EP 2, to Eagle Point Shellfish Marker, to GAL SM 55, to GAL SM 54, to GAL SM 53, to GAL SM 52, to GAL SM 51, to GAL SM 50, to Tenneco Platform State Land Tract 259 (29.55447° N, 94.94244° W), to HSC Marker 72, to Channel Marker 7, to GAL SM AA, to GAL SM BB, to GAL SM CC, to GAL SM DD, to GAL SM EE, to GAL SM FF, to GAL SM GG, to GAL SM HH, to GAL SM 20, to Abandoned Wooden Platform (29.66220° N, 94.78966° W), to GAL SM 7, to GAL SM 8,to C-2 Separator(29.67832° N, 94.75646° W), to GAL SM KK, to Anahuac Channel Marker 1, to GAL SM LL, to GAL SM MM, eastward to the shore. All areas inside a line starting at the Fereday Lighthouse tower (29.66479° N, 94.69696° W) north of the Double Bayou Channel entrance, to GAL SM NN, to GAL SM OO, to the three story light green house (29.64401° N, 94.69897° W) south of the Double Bayou Channel entrance. All areas inside a line starting from the shore at the tripod piling on Frankland Point, to GAL SM YY, to GAL SM PP, to GAL SM PT, to GAL SM WW, to GAL SM XX, to Trinity River Channel Marker #7, to northwest tip of Smith Point, along the shoreline eastward, returning to tripod piling on Frankland Point.
CONDITIONALLY APPROVED AREAS: (Subject to status changes based upon meteorological or hydrological conditions) If unsure of current status, contact your local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department office, or call, toll-free (in state only), 1-800-685-0361.
TX 2:
TX 2 is located inside of a line from the abandoned Wooden platform(29.66220° N, 94.78966° W), to GAL SM 7, to GAL SM 8, to C-2 Separator(29.67832° N, 94.75646° W), GAL SM KK, to Anahuac Channel Marker 1, to GAL SM LL, to GAL SM MM, eastward to the shore, southward along the shoreline to the Fereday lighthouse tower(29.66479° N, 94.69696° W) north of the Double Bayou Channel entrance, to GAL SM NN, to GAL SM OO, to the three story light green house(29.64401° N, 94.69897° W) south of the Double Bayou Channel entrance, southwest along the shoreline, to the tripod piling in the Trinity River Channel, to GAL SM 1, to GAL SM 2, to GAL SM 3, to GAL SM 4, to GAL SM 5, to GAL SM 6, and returning to the Abandoned Wooded Platform(29.66220° N, 94.78966° W).
TX 3:
TX 3 is located inside of a line from GAL SM PT, to GAL SM QQ, to GAL SM RR, to GAL SM SS, to the Little Yellow Separator(29.58758° N, 94.87165° W), to GAL SM JJ, to GAL SM OY, to GAL SM II, to GAL SM HH, to GAL SM 20, to the Abandoned Wooden Platform(29.66220° N, 94.78966° W), to GAL SM 6, to GAL SM 5, to GAL SM 4, to GAL SM 3, to GAL SM 2, to GAL SM 1, to the tripod piling in the Trinity River Channel, southwest along the shoreline, to the tripod piling located on Frankland Point in the Trinity River Channel, to GAL SM YY, to GAL SM PP, and returning to GAL SM PT.
TX 4:
TX 4 is located inside of a line beginning at HSC Marker 72, to HSC Marker 68, to GAL SM TT, to the Little Yellow Separator(29.58758° N, 94.87165° W), to GAL SM JJ, to GAL SM OY, to GAL SM II, to GAL SM HH, to GAL SM GG, to GAL SM FF, to GAL SM EE, to GAL SM DD, to GAL SM CC, to GAL SM BB, to GAL SM AA, to Channel Marker #7(29.61128° N, 94.92178° W), and to HSC Marker 72. TX 6: TX 6 is located inside a line beginning at HSC Marker 33, following the HSC, to HSC Marker 60, to HSC Marker 68, to HSC Marker 72, to Tenneco Platform State Land Tract 259(29.55447° N, 94.94244° W), to GAL SM 50, to GAL SM 51, to GAL SM 52, to GAL SM 53, to GAL SM 54, to GAL SM 55, to Eagle Point Shellfish Marker, to GAL SM EP 2, to GAL SM S, to GAL SM T, to Dickinson Channel Marker 4, to GAL SM U, to GAL SM UU, to Dollar Point Shellfish Marker, to GAL SM VV, to GAL SM V, to GAL SM W, to GAL SM X, to GAL SM Y, and returning to HSC Marker 33. APPROVED AREAS: For current status, contact your local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department office, or call, toll-free (in state only), 1-800-685-0361. TX 1: TX 1 is an area inside of line beginning at the Intracoastal Waterway Channel Marker 4 at Siever’s Cove, to GAL SM A, to GAL SM B, to GAL SM C, to GAL SM D, to GAL SM E, to GAL SM F, to GAL SM G, to GAL SM H, to GAL SM I, to GAL SM J, to GAL SM K, to GAL SM L, to the two story tan house with orange roof(29.52772° N, 94.75216° W), along the shoreline to a point on shore (29.571065° N, 94.572865° W), south to the tide gauge piling at Marsh Point, to a point on shore (29.524429° N, 94.578692° W) then following the shoreline to Intracoastal Waterway Channel Marker 4 at Siever’s Cove.
TX 5:
TX 5 is an area inside of a line beginning at GAL SM PT, to GAL SM WW, to GAL SM M, to GAL SM N, to GAL SM O, to GAL SM P, to GAL SM Q, to GAL SM R, to HSC Channel Marker 60, to HSC Channel Marker 68, to GAL SM TT, to the Little Yellow Separator(29.58758° N, 94.87165° W), to GAL SM SS, to GAL SM RR, to GAL SM QQ, and returning to GAL SM PT.
TX 7:
TX 7 is an area inside of a line beginning at GAL SM WW, to GAL SM XX, to Smith Point Shellfish Marker, to the end of Little Baytown Pier(29.52717° N, 94.77710° W), to the shore, eastward along the shoreline to the two story tan house with orange roof(29.52772° N, 94.75216° W), to GAL SM L, to GAL SM K, to GAL SM J, to GAL SM I, to GAL SM H, to GAL SM G, to GAL SM F, to GAL SM E, to GAL SM D, to GAL SM C, to GAL SM B, to GAL SM A, to Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW) Marker 4 at Siever’s Cove, along the shoreline to a line from the Port Bolivar Lighthouse, to HSC Channel Marker 25, to the end of the Texas City Dike, along the north shoreline of the Texas City Dike, to the Texas City Levee and along the levee shoreline, to the tripod piling off Dollar Point, to GAL SM VV, to GAL SM V, to GAL SM W, to GAL SM X, to GAL SM Y, to HSC Marker 33, to HSC Marker 60, to GAL SM R, to GAL SM Q, to GAL SM P, to GAL SM O, to GAL SM N, to GAL SM M, and returning to GAL SM WW.
TX 8:
TX 8 is an area inside of a line beginning at the northwest tip of Smith Point, to Trinity River Channel Marker #7, to SM XX, to the Smith Point Shellfish Marker, to the end of the Little Baytown Pier(29.52717° N, 94.77710° W), to the shore, then following the shoreline to the northwest tip of Smith Point.
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