Bay scallop season opens July 1 in Franklin-NW Taylor and Levy-Hernando counties

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission sent this bulletin at 06/26/2018 01:03 PM EDT

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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For immediate release: June 26, 2018

Media contact: Amanda Nalley, 850-410-4943 or Amanda.Nalley@MyFWC.com

 

Photo gallery: http://bit.ly/2BM92Mz

 

Suggested Tweet: Opening of bay #scallop season has been announced by @FLGovScott and @MyFWC. More info: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/1fa1783 #Florida

 

Bay #scallop season opens July 1 in Franklin-NW Taylor and Levy-Hernando counties. @MyFWC: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/1fa1783 #Florida

 

New to scalloping? Visit www.YouTube.com/FWCSaltwaterFishing for videos on how to shuck scallops and a scalloping checklist or @FloridaSeaGrant at www.FLSeaGrant.org/Fisheries/Scalloping.

 

Bay scallop season opens July 1 in Franklin-NW Taylor and Levy-Hernando counties

 

 scallop photo

FWC photo.

 

Starting July 1, state waters off the following areas will open to bay scallop harvest: Franklin through northwest Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark and St. Marks) and Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties (including Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa). These areas will remain open to harvest through Sept. 24.

Gov. Rick Scott said, “Scalloping is a great way to enjoy Florida’s incredible waters and pristine beaches. I encourage all Floridians to get outside and enjoy our world-class scallop season with family and friends.”

"Scalloping with your friends and family is classic Florida fun in the sun," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chairman Bo Rivard. "The season brings people and an economic boost to these coastal areas, all the while encouraging conservation and connecting residents and visitors to the wonders of Florida's outdoors."

Bag limits and other regulations

Bag and vessel limits in open bay scallop harvest zones are 2 gallons whole bay scallops in shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell or 1/2 gallon of bay scallop meat per vessel.

 

Scallops may be collected by hand or with a landing or dip net.

 

Scallops must be landed within areas that are open to harvest and may not be possessed on waters outside of areas that are open to harvest or during the closed season.

 

There is no commercial harvest allowed for bay scallops in Florida.

 

For information on bay scallop regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Bay Scallops.”

 

Boater and scalloper safety

Be safe when diving for scallops. Stay within 300 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device when scalloping in open water, and within 100 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device if on a river, inlet or navigation channel. Boat operators traveling within 300 feet of a divers-down flag or device in open water or within 100 feet of one on a river, inlet or navigational channel must slow to idle speed. For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating/Regulations and click on “Divers-down Warning Devices.” Always remember to properly stow divers-down devices when divers and snorkelers have exited the water.

 

Other best practices

  • Snorkel with a buddy.
  • Always have an observer on board the boat while others are scalloping.
  • Do not discard scallop shells in inshore waters commonly used for recreational activities such as the Homosassa River or Crystal River. Piles of discarded scallop shells can create hazards for swimmers and damage seagrass habitat. Scallop shells can be discarded in a trash receptacle or in larger bodies of water where they are more likely to disperse.
  • Be aware of changing tides.
  • Stash your trash.
  • Wear your personal flotation device when the boat is underway.

Season Dates and Boundaries

  • St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County: Aug. 17 – Sept. 30. This region includes all state waters from the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County.
  • Franklin through northwest Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark and St. Marks): July 1 – Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters from the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County.
  • The remaining portion of Taylor County and all of Dixie County (including Keaton Beach and the Steinhatchee area): June 16 – Sept. 10. This region includes all state waters east of Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County and north of Alligator Pass Daybeacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County.
  • Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties (including Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa): July 1 – Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters south of Alligator Pass Daybeacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County to the Hernando – Pasco county line.
  • Pasco County: A trial 10-day open season will occur July 20-29. This region includes all state waters south of the Hernando – Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River.

Tell us what you think

These season dates are for 2018 only. In late 2018 or early 2019, the FWC will set the 2019 seasons for Gulf and Pasco counties, consider continuing the 2018 season structure for the remaining portions of the open scallop harvest area in 2019, and will work toward creating a more permanent season structure for 2020 and beyond.

 

As the 2018 season moves forward, share your comments on what you would like to see for a future season structure at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments. The FWC is very interested in understanding whether the public prefers regional differences in the season dates or a consistent season across the harvest area, as well as what season dates work best for various regions. Public feedback will be an important factor for determining whether further changes are needed when making a decision about the long-term season dates.

 

Citizen science

Done for the day? Help FWC’s scallop researchers by completing an online survey at svy.mk/bayscallops. Harvesters can indicate where they harvested scallops, how many they collected and how long it took to harvest them. Participants can email BayScallops@MyFWC.com to ask questions or send additional information.

 

Learn more about long-term abundance trends in the open and closed scalloping areas by visiting MyFWC.com/Research and clicking on “Saltwater,” “Molluscs,” “Bay Scallops” and “Bay Scallop Season and Abundance Survey.”

 

Links to helpful materials

Map of 2018 seasons

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