The McDowell FoundationPasco County • Scallop Conservation • Clean Water
2026updated info
Scallop Conservation + Clean Water
A richer public handout with current Pasco season information, habitat facts, and practical action steps.
Why scallops matter
- Bay scallops live in shallow seagrass beds and are sensitive to environmental change.
- Because they live only about a year, population changes can show up quickly.
- Scallop conservation is directly linked to clean water and healthy seagrass.
Current Pasco snapshot
- Pasco Zone season: July 10 – Aug. 18.
- Per person: 2 gallons whole scallops in shell or 1 pint meat.
- Per vessel: 10 gallons whole in shell or 1/2 gallon meat.
- Minimum size limit: none, but the 2-inch sorter is a voluntary best practice.
What people can do
- Release smaller scallops in the water.
- Protect seagrass by idling and trimming up in shallow areas.
- Keep trash, shells, and pollutants out of coastal waters.
- Support education, cleanups, and stewardship partnerships.
Real seagrass meadow photo: Heather Dine / NOAA Photo Library via Wikimedia Commons.
More real images on the website
The live conservation page also features a real bay scallop photo and a live scallop image for outreach use.
Bay scallop photo: NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC via Wikimedia Commons.