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May 3rd, 2009

Outdoors: Red Knots Return to Florida
May 2nd, 2009

Outdoors: Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Open House Saturday
March 5th, 2009

Outdoors: FWC Plans Two Library Presentations
February 25th, 2009

Outdoors: FWC Announces January Programs
January 10th, 2009

Outdoors: Nature Walks in the Wild
November 28th, 2008

Outdoors: October Tides
October 2nd, 2008

Outdoors: Birding Event This Weekend
October 1st, 2008

Outdoors: "Kids With Cameras" Daycamp Planned
July 7th, 2008

Outdoors: Seahorse Key and Lighthouse Open Saturday
July 1st, 2008

Outdoors: Kids` Fishing and Tortoises Highlighted Saturday
April 14th, 2008

Outdoors: Celebrate Florida Archaeology Month
March 10th, 2008

Outdoors: Cedar Key Star Party
February 4th, 2008

Outdoors: Celebrate Greenways
October 25th, 2007

Outdoors: Swallowtail Kites Topic of FAVOR Speaker
March 12th, 2007

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Bay Scallop Season Opens Early

Bay Scallop Season Opens Early

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds people that the recreational harvest season for bay scallops in Florida will begin June 25 and extend through Sept. 25. The FWC, in support of Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet, added three weeks to this year`s season to help relieve Florida fishing communities suffering from possible economic hardships due to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and provide this low cost family fun activity.


Open scalloping areas on Florida`s Gulf coast extend from the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the Pasco-Hernando county line near Aripeka. It is illegal to possess bay scallops while you`re in or on state waters outside the open harvest areas, or to land bay scallops outside the open areas.


There is a daily limit of 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person. In addition, no more than 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one-half gallon of bay scallop meat may be possessed aboard any vessel at any time. You are allowed to harvest bay scallops only by hand or with a landing or dip net. Bay scallops may not be harvested for commercial purposes.


Unless otherwise exempt, you will need a regular Florida saltwater fishing license when you use a boat to harvest scallops. If you wade from shore, you will need a regular Florida saltwater fishing license or a free resident shore-based license.


Divers and snorkelers are required to display a "divers-down" flag (red with a white diagonal stripe) while in the water. Boaters must stay at least 100 feet away from a divers-down flag in a river, inlet or channel. In open waters, boaters must stay 300 feet away from a divers-down flag.


During the season, scallop harvesters can assist FWC`s scallop researchers by completing an online survey at http://svy.mk/bayscallops. Harvesters can indicate where they harvest scallops, how many they collect and how long it takes to harvest them. Participants can also e-mail BayScallops@MyFWC.com to ask questions or send additional information.


More information on bay scallops, including management rules, dive-flag regulations and boating safety is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing (click on "Regulations" under Saltwater Fishing). Information about scallop research is available at MyFWC/Research/Saltwater under the "Mollusc" section.

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