Gulf of Mexico 



meats for the principal harvested 

 species for the five states in the 

 region. 



Landings by State. Florida's oyster 

 landings decreased from over four 

 million pounds in 1 985 to less than 1 .5 

 million pounds in 1989. Clam land- 

 ings also decreased from 215,000 

 pounds in 1985 to 18,000 pounds in 

 1 989. In contrast to the State's east 

 coast, where scallop landings de- 

 clined, Gulf Coast landings increased 

 from 5,000 pounds in 1 986 to over 1 .5 

 million pounds in 1989. Declines have 

 been attributed to over-harvesting and 

 increases in harvest-limited waters 

 affected by pollution sources associ- 

 ated with coastal development. From 

 Charlotte Harbor south, estuarine 

 waters are used primarily for recre- 

 ational harvest, and many of these 

 waters were placed in the NSNP 

 classification. In Pensacola Bay, 

 Dermo infected and destroyed the 

 oyster population as a result of higher 

 drought-related salinities. 



The oyster harvest in Alabama 

 dropped from 1 .3 million pounds in 

 1 985 to 1 0,000 pounds in 1 989. 

 Although a significant spat set was 

 reported in 1989, most of Mobile Bay 

 remains closed for conservation 

 purposes and as a result of local and 

 upstream pollution. However, the 

 main reason for large declines is 

 Dermo, which returns to the Bay 

 between hurricanes or major storm 

 years when salinities increase. There 

 also are indications that pollution and 

 hypoxia may reduce the oyster's 

 resistance to such diseases (Ander- 

 son, 1988). Consequently, natural 



harvesting on public reefs gradually is 

 giving way to aquaculture, relaying, 

 and private leases. 



In Mississippi, oyster landings de- 

 creased from over one million pounds 

 in 1 985 to 1 00,000 pounds in 1 989. 

 Weather cycles have had effects 

 similar to those in Alabama, resulting 

 in periods of high salinity and Dermo. 

 Oyster reefs in some waters, such as 

 Biloxi Bay, have survived these 

 cyclical events. However, many of 

 these waters are closed due to 

 coliform contamination from shoreline 

 activities. Only a small part of Biloxi 

 Bay's productive reefs are now 

 classified as restricted and are 

 available only for the relay of oysters. 



Louisiana was the major oyster- 

 producing state in the U.S. during the 

 period. Over 14 million pounds of 

 oysters were harvested in 1985, and 

 the harvest increased to 22 million 

 pounds in 1988. However, in 1989 

 oyster landings in Louisiana de- 

 creased to just over 8.7 million 

 pounds. Declines in landings are 

 attributed to disease, habitat loss and 

 declines in approved waters. Ap- 

 proved waters often are located in 

 areas of high salinity where diseases 

 such as Dermo and predators such as 

 the oyster drill cause high mortality. 

 The most productive reefs are in 

 conditionally approved waters where 

 pollution brought in by heavy rains 

 and high river stages closes waters to 

 harvesting for extended periods. 

 Much of the harvest involves trans- 

 planting seed oysters from restricted 

 public seed waters to approved 

 private growing waters, where they 



39 



