Saving Seafood

Scallop population rebounding in Florida Panhandle

August 21, 2018 — Wildlife officials say the scallop population is rebounding following a bout of red tide in Gulf of Mexico off Florida’s Panhandle.

A survey of the adult population of St. Joseph Bay scallops posted last week by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows the population is nearly four times what it was last year.

The News Herald reports the St. Joseph Bay scallop population remains “vulnerable,” which is the wildlife agency’s category for adult populations of between two and 20 scallops per square meter. During the most recent survey, researchers found 8.1 scallops per square meter.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at My Plainview

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shortens, but does not suspend, bay scallop season

June 30, 2016 — Apparently one message from locals was heard by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

There was certainly public feedback that in the face of declining numbers the 2016 scallop season should be, as agency researchers had planned in April, suspended in St. Joseph Bay.

But, the board of the FWC last week also took note of the economics and input from some sectors that any season was better than no season and decided to shorten, but not suspend, the 2016 bay scallop harvest season in St. Joseph Bay.

The decision came two days before the bay scallop season began statewide.

In the other areas of the state where scallop populations support public harvesting, the season began last Saturday and will continue through Sept. 24.

Read the full story at The Star

FLORIDA: Scallop season up in the air

May 20, 2016 — Taking a trip during the summer to Port St. Joe in search of bay scallops has become an annual event for many residents along the Gulf Coast. The season typically opens in late June and closes sometime in September each year.

A couple of weeks ago, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission put out a release stating they were considering making arrangements to cancel the 2016 harvest season in Florida state waters west of St. Vincent Island, including St. Joseph Bay.

Earlier this week, they scheduled two workshops to gather public input on this summer’s bay scallop season in St. Joseph Bay for Tuesday and June 13. Both will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Capital City Bank conference room, 2nd floor, 504 Monument Ave., in Port St. Joe.

Read the full story at the Pensacola News Journal

FLORIDA: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission could close scallops in St. Joe Bay for 2 years

April 27, 2016 — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering closing scallop season for two years. The issue will be discussed at a meeting tonight.

“Scientific monitoring of bay scallops in St. Joseph Bay indicates that the bay scallop population has declined severely due to impacts of red tide. As a result, the bay scallop population is too low to sustain and recover from an open season for scalloping this summer,” officials wrote in a news release. “To help ensure the bay scallop population can recover as quickly as possible, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is making arrangements to cancel the 2016 harvest season in state waters west of St. Vincent Island including St. Joseph Bay.”

Read the full story at myPanhandle.com