Rhode Island DEM Announces Opening of Bay Scallop Season
October 6, 2008
PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that the bay scallop harvest season opens at sunrise on Saturday, October 4 and continues until Wednesday, December 31 at sunset. Residents can take up to one bushel of scallops per day without a license, and commercial license holders can take up to five bushels per day/per boat from state waters. Non-license holders cannot offer scallops for sale. Harvesters are reminded that possession of seed scallops is prohibited. Legal scallops possess a defined, raised, annual growth ring.
In an effort to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting scallop seed, DEM marine biologists report that bay scallop densities remain low in comparison to historic levels. Although restoration efforts funded by the North Cape oil spill restoration fund have had some success, marine biologists consider the protection of seed scallops a critical step in preserving these restoration efforts.
To protect scallops and bottom habitats from dredge damage, scallops can be harvested by dip-net only from a boat until November 15 in the following areas: Narrow River, Pawcatuck River, Little Narragansett Bay, Point Judith, and Potter, Green Hill, Charlestown, Quonochontaug, and Winnapaug Ponds. Dredging will be allowed in those areas after November 15 to access remaining adult scallops residing in deeper waters.
Harvesting of shellfish with scuba apparatus is prohibited at all times in Quonochontaug Pond, Ninigret Pond, Green Hill Pond, and Potter Pond.
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Bay Scallop Season Opens July 1
June 26, 2008
The recreational harvest season for bay scallops begins July 1 and continues through Sept. 10. 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.
Bay scallops may be taken only within the allowable harvest areas. 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 during the open season. 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’re allowed to harvest bay scallops only by hand or with a landing or dip net, and bay scallops may not be harvested for commercial purposes.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists review the status and health of the bay scallop fishery each year.Â
“We are seeing recovery of scallop populations along the West Coast of Florida relative to their status in the early 1990s,” said Bill Arnold, an FWC research scientist.
“Harvesters should adhere to scallop-fishing regulations, especially the daily bag limit,” Arnold said.
You also should collect only the amount of bay scallops you are willing to clean.
More information on bay scallops is available online at MyFWC.com/marine/bayscallops.htm and http://research.myfwc.com/features/category_sub.asp?id=2598
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New Jersey Marine Licenses and Permits
June 12, 2008
NOTE: On June 17, 2008, changes to the shellfish statutes (Title 50) go into effect. Current clam licenses will be expanded to include all molluscan (shellfish) species, with the exception of conchs, which are addressed in the commercial marine fisheries regulations. In addition, a new non-resident Commercial Shellfish License was established. The new statute means that anyone who wishes to harvest hard clams, soft clams, surf clams, oysters, bay scallops or mussels (or other molluscan shellfish excluding conchs) will need to obtain a Shellfish License.
Since these changes are being implemented in the middle of the calendar year, those who have already purchased a Clamming License will not need to purchase a new Shellfish License. Their existing 2008 Clamming License will have all the rights associated with the new Shellfish License.
In addition, the new Shellfish Licenses will be available via the Internet license site.
New Jersey does not require a general saltwater fishing license for recreational surf casting, deep sea or bay fishing. However, there is a variety of required licenses and permits for crabbing, clamming and commercial saltwater fishing issued by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Bureau of Marine Fisheries.
Licenses and permits are available at the Nacote Creek Office in Port Republic (Atlantic County) and through the mail (linked below) and on the division’s Internet license site, www.wildlifelicense.com/nj/.
Tuna permits are issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service - see www.nmfspermits.com for details.
A NJ Child Support Certification Form must be included with every application and is part of the application documents linked below. For information on the Child Support Certification requirement please visit the Child Support Certification Information page.
For information on license/permit requirements please see the Marine Issue of the Fish and Wildlife Digest and/or the NJ Commercial Marine Regulations, both available linked from the Regulations page. For copies of letter regarding Commercial Quotas and Trip Limits see www.njfishandwildlife.com/comquotas.htm.
Below are the various marine licenses issued by the division:
| Non-commercial Crab Pot License | $2.00 |
| Resident Recreational Shellfish License | $10.00 |
| Resident Senior (62 and older) Recreational Shellfish License | $2.00 |
| Juvenile (under 14 years of age) Recreational Shellfish License (Resident/Non-Resident) | $2.00 |
| Non-Resident Recreational Shellfish License | $20.00 |
| Commercial Shellfish License | $50.00 |
| Non-Resident Commercial Shellfish License | $250.00 |
| Fillet Permit for Party Boats | $2.00 |
| To Use Fish Nets, Pounds and Pots in Marine & Estuarine Waters within Three Miles of Shore | Fee Varies |
Applications for some of the above licenses are available in PDF format on the Forms Page.
For information on the above licenses or permits please contact:
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
Nacote Creek Research Station
P.O. Box 418
Port Republic, NJ 08241
Marine Fisheries - 609-748-2020
Shellfisheries - 609-748-2040
Enforcement - 609-748-2050
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