The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will close the state’s salt waters to commercial and recreational oyster harvesting for human consumption effective 6 a.m. Sunday, June 1, 2025. The closure extends through midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, and applies to all salt waters from the Georgia-South Carolina state line to the Georgia-Florida border.
The seasonal closure is enacted annually to protect public health during the warmer months, when the risk of shellfish-related illnesses—particularly those caused by the naturally occurring bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus—is elevated due to rising water temperatures.
The closure follows the requirements of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. §§ 27-4-195 and 27-4-197(a)) and supports compliance with federal guidelines established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference. These guidelines recommend implementing Vibrio control measures, including seasonal harvest closures, when average water temperatures exceed 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
An administrative order signed by DNR Commissioner Walter Rabon further cites recent scientific studies showing that the commercial quality of intertidal oyster meats declines significantly during the summer months.
This closure does not apply to subtidal mariculture oyster farms operated by certified Master Harvesters who have received explicit permission from the DNR. These operations must comply with stringent harvest, handling, and cold-chain management requirements outlined in Georgia’s recently implemented Vibrio control plan and shellfish mariculture regulations.
Oyster harvesting in Georgia will reopen at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, when cooler temperatures improve both product safety and quality. For more information, contact the Coastal Resources Division at 912-264-7218.
