Changing Role of Scallop Sorters in Recreational Scalloping Harvests Nestled along the serene Gulf coast of Florida lies the Big Bend region. A hidden gem known for its picturesque landscapes and abundant marine life. Among the many ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation
As I write this, we are in the middle of our 2023 Scallop Search, an event we do each year to assess whether the scallops in Pensacola Bay are trying to make a comeback on their own. Each year I am amazed at how popular this little mollusk ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
My favorite thing about summer is the food. I think that’s because it’s more adventurous. There’s a mild risk factor involved with eating outdoors, contending with sun and sand, shooing away bugs, and lighting a charcoal fire that adds ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & LifeIntroduction The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) was once a common bivalve in the lower portion of Pensacola Bay. Found in the thick grassbeds of Big Lagoon and Santa Rosa Sound, it provided both a recreational and commercial fishery ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesWe round out National Estuaries Week with an article about yet another marine animal that was once common in lower Pensacola Bay and disappeared. This is one that many local residents would LOVE to see make a return. It is the bay scallop. Many ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Chuck before you shuck! Leave the small scallops behind! Did you know bay scallops in Florida's waters only live for 18 months? Or that the recreational harvest season along the Gulf Coast occurs before scallops are allowed to reproduce? ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, WildlifeScallops… We used to find them here. I have heard stories of folks who could fill a 5-gallon bucket with them in about 30 minutes right by Morgan Park. An old shrimper told me that back in the day when shrimping in Santa Rosa Sound ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
One of the programs I focus on as a Sea Grant Extension Agent in Escambia County is restoring the health of our estuary. One of the projects in that program is increasing the encounters with estuarine animals that were once common. Currently ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Recreational scalloping along Florida's Adventure Coast is finally here! Are you ready? Here are some answers to some FAQ about scalloping in Hernando County. Is there somewhere I can walk off of the shore and go scalloping? Scallops are ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Florida's newest Aquatic Preserve, the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve (NCAP), is about to reach an important milestone. Since designation in 2020, managers and staff at Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) have worked hard ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Events, Natural Resources, Water