Virginia’s marine resource managers have granted emergency extensions to the state’s oyster harvesting season after watermen faced significant losses due to icy conditions and struggling market prices.
During their February 24th meeting, commissioners with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission approved schedule modifications designed to help harvesters make up for missed opportunities during the challenging season.
The emergency changes include extending the current season in Pocomoke and Tangier Sound Rotation Area 1 by two additional weeks, keeping those waters open until March 15th. Additionally, officials will reopen Rappahannock River Area 8 from March 1st through March 15th, providing another two-week harvesting window.
State regulators took the emergency action to help address financial difficulties facing Virginia’s oyster industry, which has been hit by dangerous ice buildup that made harvesting unsafe, combined with depressed market prices that have squeezed profits.
While the season extensions provide additional harvesting time, all existing rules governing equipment use and daily catch limits will continue to apply during the extended periods.
