Galveston Bay Estuary Program2010-02-152010-02-152006http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/266851 page; available for download at the link below.Galveston Bay is one of the nation's most productive estuaries. It is estimated that seafood production generates an estimated $3.1 billion annually to our region's economy. The Bay supports one-third of the state's commercial fishing and over half of its recreational fishing. The bay is a popular place, and rightly so. Enjoying the bay, using it for our livelihoods, or consuming its fish or shellfish comes with some public-health risks. The Estuary Program works with state and federal agencies to understand, to publicize, and to minimize these risks. There are two main areas of risk: (1) exposure to pathogens (disease-causing organisms) through the consumption of oysters or by direct contact with contaminated waters, and (2) exposure to toxic substances through the consumption of contaminated fish or shellfish.water and sediment qualityhabitat protectionpublic healthfreshwater inflowspecies protectionshoreline managementspills, fills, and dumpingseafood consumption advisoriesFlyer