Editorial l Importance to local economy requires vigilance | editorial

THE MATTER:

The county’s low scallop numbers.

OUR OPINION:

Keep a close eye.

Widely considered one of the healthiest seafood, scallops are prized for their delicate texture and flavor. And with Citrus County waters ranked among the best spots for scallops, the scallop is an extremely important part of our local economy.

Because the lifespan of scallops is generally one year and has a high mortality rate, they are a fragile resource that cannot be taken for granted. With that in mind, low scallop numbers this season, which runs July 1 through September 24, have drawn the watchful eyes of members of Citrus County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC).

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Concerned that this season’s low numbers could be a harbinger of worse times, at a recent meeting, TDC members discussed whether it was time to replace the current bag limit of 2 gallons per person with a three-tier bag limit per person scallops per day and 10 gallons per jar per day.

The three-tier baggage limit would allow 1 gallon per person and 5 gallons per ship in July; 2 gallons per person, 10 gallons per vessel in August; and 3 gallons per person, 15 gallons per vessel in September.

Because studies show that removing fewer scallops early in the season and more at the end of the season has less of an impact on their sustainability, the three-tier bag cap seems a sensible way to improve the sustainability of this fragile scallop resource.

However, the TDC decided to put the three-tier bag limit on hold after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which has the power to change bag limits, encouraged a wait-and-see approach due to scallop populations being highly variable with hot and baked not unusual during cold seasons.

TDC’s watchful eye also looks to the future with the possible creation of a scallop stamp, which district commissioners have placed on their legislative agenda at TDC’s request. If finally approved by the Legislature, the $10 stamp would be part of the required saltwater fishing license to provide funding for additional scallop research, enforcement and sustainability efforts.

Because scallops are an extremely important part of our county’s economy, the TDC’s vigilance and proactive initiatives are both appreciated and welcomed.