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Babysit a Scallop!

Extension Education

Brittany Scharf
Marine Agent
UF/IFAS Extension
Brooksville

Abstract

Recreational scalloping is a popular summertime activity and economic driver along Florida's Gulf Coast, including Hernando County. Unfortunately, annual scallop abundance surveys and stakeholder input indicated local scallop populations were declining. Bay scallops are filter-feeding bivalve mollusks that only survive one to two years and are sensitive to environmental factors like salinity and red tide. They reproduce via broadcast spawning after the recreational harvest season closes. Research shows that caging scallops increases the chance of successful fertilization and is much cheaper than investing in hatchery-reared spat. To help boost Hernando's bay scallop numbers, Florida Sea Grant obtained supplies and led a team of volunteers to conduct underwater surveys and care for wild-collected scallops. As a result, 41 volunteers completed the training workshop requirements (88% knowledge gain) and collected over 1,400 wild-caught scallops. Volunteers maintained these scallops in predator exclusion cages anchored in marine waters every month throughout the scallop spawning season. Seven trained volunteers completed 70 underwater surveys before and after the recreational harvest occurred in Hernando County. Volunteers dedicated 520 hours towards the Adventure Coast Scallop Sitter project ($12,501 value). Additional $2,000 of in-kind contributions supported this project.State biologists use data collected during the scallop sitting and surveys to monitor the scallop fishery in Florida. Surveys conducted by the Adventure Coast Scallop Sitters indicated that Hernando County had the highest scallop abundance recorded in nine years, in part due to the success of the scallop sitter program. Because of community support, this program will be continued through this upcoming recreational scalloping season.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Brittany Scharf
  1. Scharf, B. Marine Agent, University of Florida, Florida, 34604