June 5, 2019 โ Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently signed a bill into law establishing a new regulatory framework allowing for oyster aquaculture on the stateโs Gulf Coast.
Before passage of House Bill 1300, Texas was the only coastal state in the U.S. that didnโt allow oyster mariculture off its coasts. The new law allows oysters to be raised for their pearls, as well as their shells and meat.
Set to go into effect, the new law requires the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt rules that would establish a program to regulate the process of growing oysters. Abbott signed the bill into law last month, the last day of the 2019 session of the Texas Legislature.