In April 2025, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved a new rule making it possible to harvest oysters commercially in warmer weather without compromising food safety. The rule change was informed, in part, by a collaborative study between Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia DNR and local shellfish growers.
The study explored the use of floating gear to safely harvest oysters during summer. Floating gear has been permitted for oyster aquaculture in Georgia since 2020, giving commercial farmers more control over harvest timing and oyster quality. Unlike intertidal harvesting, which is restricted in the summer due to high risk of Vibrio bacteria from heat and air exposure, floating gear allows for more precise handling, even during warmer months
With funding from the National Sea Grant College Program, researchers at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfish Research Lab tested Vibrio levels in oysters harvested between June and October. The study found that Vibrio levels remained within safe limits when oysters were either placed on ice immediately after harvest or kept shaded and delivered to a walk-in cooler within two hours—and before 10 a.m
Guided by findings from the study, the new summer harvest rules adopted by the state allow for safe summer oyster harvest under specific handling requirements.
Building on this research, additional studies by the team at the Shellfish Research Lab are underway to determine whether the two-hour harvest window can be extended, potentially offering growers more flexibility while maintaining seafood safety.
