Oyster reefs in the Gulf of Mexico are an invaluable natural ecosystem and resource for coastal communities. Yet, they are threatened by multiple stressors and in Texas, continuing harvest of oyster reefs through dredging imposes a strong impact on some of the last remaining healthy oyster reefs in the Gulf. This produces a contentious landscape for management, as benefits of maintaining the oyster reef fishery have to be weighed against potential degradation of oyster reefs and their services. The NOAA RESTORE funded DECORATE project (Developing an Ecosystem-based Conservation framework Across Texas Estuaries) seeks to provide the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) with guidance for oyster reef management by examining the drivers of oyster reef functioning through space and time. Specifically, by applying a wide range of interdisciplinary techniques —from acoustic telemetry and passive acoustic monitoring to track fish habitat use to eDNA, bioboxes, biogeochemistry, and toxicology— we aim to develop a management tool that permits the simulation of oyster reef multi-functionality under different management regimes. In this talk, I will provide a first glimpse of the insights gained from fieldwork in five major bay systems in Texas, highlighting trends, challenges, and future opportunities.