AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) bought and retired 46 commercial oyster licenses during the tenth round of its Commercial Oyster Boat License Buyback Program. Combined with 112 licenses retired last year, the department said nearly 30% of the state's commercial oyster licenses have been taken out of circulation.
The buybacks give willing license holders a way to leave the fishery, which the department said helps reduce harvest pressure on wild oyster reefs. TPWD said wild oyster abundance has declined due to several factors and that improving reef health is a top priority. The oyster industry and conservation groups have identified license buybacks as an effective way to reduce harvest pressure over the long run, the department said.
This year, TPWD and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) worked with private donors through the S. Reed Morian Oyster Buyback Program to offer license holders a fixed price of $30,000 per license. Laurie Morian and Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Texas have supported the program, which honors the late S. Reed Morian, a former chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
"The progress we've made in just two years is remarkable, and it shows what we can accomplish when we work together," said TPWF Executive Director Anne Brown.