Stock structure for the American oyster in the Gulf of Mexico region is difficult to ascertain. It is likely that regions may have distinct populations or subpopulations with limited mixing. But overall the degree of mixing is unknown between extremes in range, or adjacent regions (MRAG Americas 2019). In Texas, oysters are harvested using dredges, and hand implements. A relatively large and growing amount is also aquacultured or augmented from wild populations (MRAG Americas 2019).