A letter from GRTU Conservation and TX State Council Chair.
GRTU Members,
As a Texas-based conservation organization of nearly 6,000 members, Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited has voiced full support of the proposal to prohibit oyster harvest in the Mesquite Bay Complex, which includes Ayres, Mesquite and Carlos Bays. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the proposal to close Mesquite, Carlos, and Ayres bays would protect 2,129 acres of oyster habitat. Restoration of the oyster reef is costly at approximately $60,000/acre. Quite frankly, Texas can easily avoid such costs by simply protecting the existing resource.
Oysters are, in many ways, the unsung heroes of the Texas coast. They are vital to the entire ecosystem. Their presence provides habitat for microorganisms of all kinds, which in turn, creates prime feeding areas for larger predators as well.
Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited has long supported and collaborated with the efforts of Texas Parks and Wildlife and we look forward to doing so in the future. We greatly appreciate the work of TPWD in conserving both our inland and coastal fisheries.
While as a chapter we have voted in favor of the closure, this proposal needs more individual votes! We highly encourage our members to take action and vote in favor of the proposed closure HERE.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter and we greatly thank you for your effort to better the Texas coast.
Sincerely,
Chris Johnson
GRTU Conservation Chair
Texas TU State Council Chair
