On Wednesday, March 23, many fishermen from across the Texas Gulf Coast region traveled to Austin for a public demonstration over the the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's proposed permanent closure of Mesquite, Ayers, and Carlos bay. According to an environmental activist named Diane Wilson, the TPWD closed reefs temporarily and permanently in Galveston, Matagorda, San Antonio, and Aransas Bays, effectively ending commercial oyster fishing in some Texas areas. As a result, this closure had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of some oyster men. The protest happened at 4200 Smith school road, while the Parks and Wildlife staff and Commissioners discussed the closures that are scheduled for a Commission vote on Thursday, March 24. The oyster men want to stop the closures, sponsored by the Federation of Southern Cooperative/Land Assistance fund.