The state’s public oyster reefs will close for harvesting this week, the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced. The department said Tuesday the public oyster reefs will close Friday at 2 p.m.

The harvest zones have been open since Oct. 2 and, so far, more than 32,000 sacks of oysters have been harvested totaling almost 2.7 million pounds with an approximate dockside value of more than $1.2 million.

“This season has been very successful and built on the successes of the previous four years. We anticipated the number of sacks harvested to be similar to last season but we did have some mortality on the reef from oyster drills, a predatory snail that thrives when salinity levels are higher,” said Marine Resources director Scott Bannon.

“Utilizing our harvest grid system, we were able to monitor small areas and appropriately close them for sustainability, while keeping harvesters working more days in other locations. Accurate harvest reporting was a vital part of the season’s length.

“I appreciate the reporting efforts of the harvesters and the efforts of our staff to effectively monitor and manage the season. The dockside price paid per pound of oysters was more variable than last year but harvesters were able to harvest and sell their catch for a profit which is beneficial to the families and the local economy.”

MRD continues to utilize several new survey techniques to assist with developing pre-season harvest estimates and work toward restoring and maintaining Alabama’s oyster reefs so that oysters can be enjoyed for generations to come.