The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the scallop season for Gulf County and St. Joseph Bay opens today. The annual survey of the adult scallop population in June and July showed they have made a remarkable recovery since 2016, after the Bay’s scallop population collapsed. That year the harvest season was just 10 days; in 2017, due an algae bloom, the season was just 14 days and last year red tide closed the season with a few days remaining. This year researchers found an average of 66 scallops at each of the 200-square meter stations that were surveyed. Three years ago less than one scallop per station was found. The season closes September 15th.
