State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris has announced the reopening of portions of Mobile Bay that had been temporarily closed to oyster harvesting since June 24, 2026. The reopening covers designated Areas I and II, which include Cedar Point, Portersville Bay, Heron Bay and Dauphin Island Bay, all located in Mobile County along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
The reopening order took effect at 1 p.m. on July 1, 2026, allowing catchers to resume harvesting oysters from the affected waters after the roughly weeklong closure.
How Alabama Manages Its Public Oyster Reefs
All public oyster reefs in Alabama are managed for harvest by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Division, commonly known as MRD. The division oversees which areas are open to harvest at any given time, and officials are reminding catchers to check directly with MRD for up-to-date information on which specific areas are available before heading out on the water.
Temporary closures of shellfish growing waters are a routine part of how Alabama protects public health. State and local health officials periodically test bay waters and shellfish tissue for bacteriological safety, and can order areas closed to harvest when conditions warrant caution, then reopen them once testing confirms the water meets safety standards again.
Ongoing Monitoring
The Alabama Department of Public Health, or ADPH, said it will continue to monitor bay waters and shellfish in the region to ensure bacteriological safety for consumers. That ongoing monitoring is what allows the agency to reopen waters like Cedar Point, Portersville Bay, Heron Bay and Dauphin Island Bay once conditions are again considered safe for harvest.
Oyster harvesting is an important part of the economy and food culture along coastal Mobile County, supporting both commercial catchers and the broader Gulf Coast seafood industry. Catchers and consumers alike depend on ADPH and MRD to keep them informed about which waters are open and safe at any given time.