NANCE: Researchers provide some insight into the ol' bay scallop

Three weeks ago I joked that deer hunting doesn’t save me much money on my grocery bills by replacing venison with store-bought beef. Well, Florida’s bay scallops aren’t exactly a penny earned, either.

This is, of course, accepted by the legions of recreational divers who plunge into Gulf Coast waters for the tasty shellfish each summer, but, until recently, I didn't truly grasp how much in the red we were for a handful or two of scallops, either.

Florida has regional bay scallop seasons that are defined throughout the Nature Coast and portions of the Big Bend. Since, by the time you read this, scallop season has started throughout the bulk of these regions, my original idea for this column was to provide a Scallop Forecast, but I shifted gears rapidly after speaking with scallop researchers.

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I'd contacted FWC regarding their preseason scallop abundance surveys the agency once published on their website and was directed to Victor Blanco, the Marine and Natural Resources Extension Agent for the UF/IFAS Extension in Taylor County. He informed me the FWC Research Institute conducted an assessment of the fishery in that county in 2018, and their approach and modeling indicated the need to change from a preseason to a postseason survey. They found that a critical factor in their study was to know the remaining population of scallops after the season closes. By doing so, they were able to more accurately calculate the "spawning population.”

In his email, Mr. Blanco also sent a link to a Zoom video update of the scalloping fishery in Taylor County, which was presented during the Scallop Seminar on June 13, 2022 at the Steinhatchee Community Center. In it, he laid out not only the prognostications for the season there (strong) but also provided economic data that was eye-opening and really drove home what a financial benefit bay scallop season is to these Gulf Coast communities.

According to a 2017 study, the estimated total expenditure for scallopers in Taylor County was approximately $4.7 million. Boats out of Steinhatchee spent an average of $260 while those calling Keaton Beach their port-of-call dished out $169 per vessel. Since then, between COVID, when outdoor recreation surged, and inflation, when everything else surged, I’d guess those numbers have swelled.

What was particularly interesting to me was how that money was spent. Fishing supplies and restaurant bills accounted for nearly 48% of this tab. Groceries and boat fuel accounted for another 36% while lodging and other expenses rounded out the balance.

While these numbers no doubt differ over time and as one travels from New Port Richey to Port St. Joe, they do underscore the cash flow that washes across these communities each summer. In some instances, such as those towns in Taylor County, scallop season represents a significant chunk of annual revenue.

Yes, all of this for the humble, hermaphroditic ol’ bay scallop. Managing their stock is and always has been a balancing act, though. These mollusks are fickle critters. According to the FWC, scallops are sensitive to changing environmental conditions such as seagrass losses, increases in freshwater, and loosening of sediments.

Over time, the Gulf Coast’s scallop populations became fragmented, thus localized populations increasingly rely upon replenishing itself rather than being supplemented by spawning sources from outside that area. As a result, since scallops only live about a year, local populations today are susceptible to periodic collapses.

I well remember when the fishery was shut throughout most of the 1990s, at least off Citrus County, when the population collapsed. I recall being thrilled when it reopened finally, and spent many Fourth of July weekends in my 20s off Homosassa filling mesh harvest bags and emptying beer coolers.

I can also recount the anxiety over the effects — real or imagined — of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Afterwards, Gov. Charlie Crist opened the scallop seasons early to attract divers to the coast. Gov. Rick Scott carried this tradition along through the early part of the decade before it riled up a little backlash as numbers petered out and suggestions of closing the fishery again briefly ensued.

Looking towards the future to effectively manage the bay scallop populations and maintaining this renewable resource, FWC is now encouraging — though not requiring — divers to release scallops that have not reached spawning size. Anything under 1½ inches is considered too small.

Also, through an online survey, FWC is asking sportsmen to indicate where they harvest scallops, how many they collect, and how long it takes to collect the shellfish. This will help monitor the harvest and contribute to their postseason spawning data that will be used for establishing future seasons and bag limits. For the link to the survey, season dates, bag limits, and everything else you need to know about Florida’s bay scallop fishery, please visit myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops/

As for the fishing report for the upcoming summer — well, didn’t really get to that. If you’re on Facebook, follow the Florida Scalloping Group for updates. Personally, I’d just head out and give it a try. Scallops or no, a cool soak and snorkel in the crystal clear waters and lush turtle grass of the Gulf is worth every penny.