In the upcoming weeks, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will be working closely with the Gulf County community on plans for this summer's bay scallop season in St. Joseph Bay, including evaluating a wide variety of possible future management options, in an effort to meet the needs of the fishery while recognizing and preserving the economic value of scallops to the area.

The FWC will host two public workshops in the coming weeks including one in May and one in early June to update the local community on the most recent monitoring data from the FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and to gather public input from the community on possible management measures for this summer, as well as future seasons. The FWC will also bring this issue before the Commission at the June meeting in the Apalachicola area.

FWC announced last week that it was considering cancelling the 2016 scallop season in Gulf County due to severely negative impacts to scallops associated with the 2015 red tide event in the area. However, after hearing feedback from community officials and local residents who attended an emergency meeting held last week, the FWC is delaying a decision on management changes until more scientific data and public feedback can be gathered and considered. The FWC will work closely with Gulf County in a coordinated and cooperative effort to minimize negative impacts associated with potential scallop declines this summer and would like to hear additional ideas about management actions. In the meantime, FWC will proceed with previously planned research and monitoring activities that will help inform any management action taken.

The FWC is finalizing workshop dates and locations in the Port St. Joe area and will announce this information via a press release and online at MyFWC.com/Fishing, then click on "Saltwater," "Recreational Regulations" and "Bay Scallops."

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Media contact: Amanda Nalley, 850-410-4943 or Amanda.Nalley@MyFWC.com