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MDMR says oyster beds remain closed after river crest, samples exceed safety thresholds
Summary
Office of Marine Fisheries staff reported that high river stages and elevated fecal coliform results have kept Mississippi shellfish areas closed; sampling and salinity monitoring will continue before reopening.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) reported March 18 that oyster harvesting areas remain closed after river stages rose and recent water samples exceeded the department's safety thresholds.
Ellen Coffin, Office of Marine Fisheries staff, told the Mississippi Advisory Commission on Marine Resources that the department closed shellfish areas on Feb. 16 after river stages rose and that samples taken March 6 were “above our opening criteria for shellfish safety,” preventing reopening. "Unfortunately, the samples were above our opening criteria for shellfish safety and we could not open any area," Coffin said.
The closure has followed a period of sustained high river stages. Coffin noted the river crested Feb. 25, and later crests were anticipated; the presentation cited an anticipated crest of 15.1 feet on March 22. Salinity near Henderson Point fell from about 16 parts to about 8 parts during the period the department has been monitoring.
MDMR provided a season snapshot: the last date the fisheries were open was Feb. 14; the department reported 7,376 total sacks harvested to date for the 2024–25 season and said average sacks per open day were 75. The agency also reported license and effort counts during the update. Coffin explained that the department's sampling program follows an FDA review of the state’s molluscan shellfish growing waters management plan and that the agency uses geometric-mean thresholds and multi-year data to determine safety.
Coffin said the department typically waits three to four days after a river crest to resume sampling but that prolonged high river stages lengthen the flushing period. "Because the river has been so high for so long, that flushing period takes longer than what it would be if it were to go from 11 to 12 and then back down in a couple of days," she said.
MDMR staff said they will continue daily monitoring, take follow-up samples after the river recedes, and post reopening information on the department website. No reopening date was set during the meeting.
The update drew acknowledgement from commissioners and staff, who thanked Coffin and the fisheries team for maintaining the sampling program and documentation that underpins safety decisions.
