Oysters and The Bay

We open with a groan-worthy oyster joke, then dive into how reefs shaped Galveston Bay’s ecology, history, and seafood economy. We trace the move from open harvest to science-based management and examine restoration, recycling, and aquaculture as tools for a fragile, working bay.

• scale and role of Galveston Bay
• indigenous shell middens and cultural roots
• oysters as keystone reef builders
• growth rates, filtration, and habitat benefits
• industry history and economic impact
• regulation by TPWD
• license buybacks and private leases
• storm, flood, and drought threats
• partnerships in reef restoration and shell recycling
• hatcheries, resilient strains, and emerging aquaculture
• sustaining a wild fishery with clear rules

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