Bay County Shellfish Harvest Areas Reopen

Bay County, FL– The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that the #1012 & #1022 North Bay Western and Eastern Shellfish Harvest Area in Bay County will be re-opened at sunrise on January 26, 2024, for the harvest of oysters, clams, and mussels. Please note that this reopening does not apply to scallops, shrimp, or crabs.

The basis for this action is that fecal coliform results indicate the water quality meets the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) standards as defined in Chapter 5L-1.003 of the Florida Administrative Code. This means the shellfish harvested from this area are safe for consumption.

This is a great opportunity for shellfish harvesters in Bay County to resume their activities. We encourage everyone to follow safe harvesting practices and to check the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website for the latest updates on shellfish harvesting closures and reopening’s.

Please Visit FWC’s webpage for wild shellfish harvest seasons, executive orders, size and bag limits:

For FWC Commercial Regulations please visit https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/commercial/oysters/

For FWC Recreational Regulations please visit https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/shellfish/