Game wardens target illegal oystering | Wilson County News

Wilson County News

Texas game wardens in Calhoun and Aransas counties led a multi-agency law enforcement surge operation targeting illegal commercial oyster harvest and possession along the coastal bend, netting more than 140 criminal cases. Many of the violations, according to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department press release, were for possession of undersized oysters that the state's prized reef ecosystem requires for sustainability and long-term health. Operation Reef Safeguard I consisted of patrols by Texas game wardens Dec. 10-14 in collaboration with law-enforcement officers with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Calhoun County and Aransas County sheriff's offices. Thanks to additional laws created by the 85th Texas Legislature to help combat the harvest of undersized oysters through enhanced penalties, law-enforcement officials are now able to hold all workers on oyster boats accountable for possession of undersized oysters. Previously, only