14
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Shellfish may only be harvested from waters
certified by the Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services (DACS) as open for
harvest. The DACS is authorized to describe,
open and temporarily close any shellfish
harvesting area. Vessels used to harvest
shellfish must have a portable or U.S. Coast
Guard approved marine sanitation device with
a holding tank and any through valve shut
and fixed in a closed position. All vessels must
have false bottoms and bulkheads fore and
aft to prevent contact with bilge water. The
presence of dogs or other animals on vessels is
prohibited. Additional shellfish handling and
area water quality requirements apply. Refer
to Chapter 5-L, F.A.C.
Unauthorized harvest is prohibited within a
distance of 25 feet from the lawfully marked
lease boundaries or within the setback and
access corridors within specifically designated
high-density aquaculture lease areas and
aquaculture lease areas and aquaculture
use zones.
Oyster Regulations
Unless otherwise stated below the basic
statewide bag limit and closed seasons and gear
restrictions are listed in the chart on page 18.
A bag equals two five-gallon buckets, one
ten-gallon bucket, or 60 lbs. of culled oysters
in the shell. Undersized oysters must be
culled immediately upon harvest and returned
to the reef from which they were harvested.
Undersized oysters may number no more
than five percent (by count) of unattached
oysters per bag and no more than 15 percent
(by count) attached (such that separation
would destroy either oyster) per bag. Vessels
connected together, such as towing, may only
claim one bag limit all together. Commercial
and recreational harvest by any person during
the same day is prohibited. Bycatch from
trawling or dragging any gear over a public
oyster bar should be returned to the water
as closely as possible to the beds where taken
and transport and sale of bycatch or oysters
taken intetenchenloly is prohibited. Wholesale
and retail dealers may not sell oysters unless
they are labeled and traceable to the point of
harvest.
Upon leaving an area, harvesters must
pass through a monitoring station when in
operation. Harvest on leased parcels is subject
to the established rules unless otherwise
exempted by the approved lease provisions.
Harvest from public reefs is prohibited from
July 1 – Sept. 30, except as provided below.
In Wakulla, Dixie, and Levy Counties, harvest
is prohibited from June 1 – Aug. 31.
In Indian River County, harvest is prohibited
within 75 feet of the shoreline of the Indian
River, any canal bank, or any privately owned
submerged lands, or dock without written
permission of the owner. In Volusia County,
oysters harvested from an approved public bar
may not be stockpiled onto a lease.
Oyster Harvesting In Apalachicola Bay* the following seasonal bag limits and closures apply:
Season
Closed days/Areas/Bag limit
June 1 - Aug. 31
Harvest is prohibited on Fridays and Saturdays. Harvest is allowed only in areas referenced in paragraph 5L – 1.003(1)
Table 2 of the DACS Comprehensive Shellfish Control Code.
July 1 – Sept. 30
20 Bags per person per day or vessel, which ever is less.
Sept. 1 - Nov. 15
Harvest is prohibited on Saturdays or Sundays.
Oct 1 - June 30
20 bags per person per day.
Nov. 16 - May 31
Harvest is allowed any day of the week, except upon notice of DACS, harvest will be prohibited on Saturdays and Sundays.
*Apalachicola Bay includes St. George Sound, East Bay, Apalachicola Bay, and St. Vincent Sound and their canals, channels, rivers, and creeks; and Indian
Lagoon and its canals, channels, rivers, and creeks.
Hard Clam Regulations
Unless otherwise stated below, the basic
statewide clam size and bag limits, closed
season and gear restrictions are listed in the
chart on page16. Clams may only be harvested
from waters certified by DACS as open for
harvest.
There is a three percent (by count) per
bag allowance for undersized clams. The
possession of unsorted clams aboard vessels
underway is prohibited. Harvest is prohibited
between one-half hour after sunset and
one-half hour before sunrise (this restriction
does not apply to properly permitted dredge
operations).
Vessel engines must be turned off during
manual use of gear. Use of rakes, dredges,
or mechanical devices is prohibited in grass
beds and pulling such gear under power is
prohibited except under a Special Activity
License. Vessels must be equipped with shades
to shield clams from the sun and cull boards or
racks with unobstructed clear space to allow
undersized clams to fall through. Undersized
clams must be immediately returned alive to
the place where taken.
In Apalachicola Bay, clams may only be
harvested by hand, diving, swimming, or
leaning from vessels, wading, and by tongs.
The use of a dredge is prohibited. In Brevard
County, divers must be certified. Harvest is
prohibited within 75 feet of the Indian River or
Banana River shoreline abutting property that
is used for residential purposes or within 75
feet of any canal bank.
SHELLFISH (OYSTERS, CLAMS & MUSSELS)
Please check www.MyFWC.com for updates
29
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Shellfish may only be harvested from waters
certified by the Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services (DACS) as open for
harvest. The DACS is authorized to describe,
open and temporarily close any shellfish
harvesting area. Vessels used to harvest
shellfish must have a portable or U.S. Coast
Guard approved marine sanitation device with
a holding tank and any through valve shut
and fixed in a closed position. All vessels must
have false bottoms and bulkheads fore and
aft to prevent contact with bilge water. The
presence of dogs or other animals on vessels is
prohibited. Additional shellfish handling and
area water quality requirements apply. Refer
to Chapter 5-L, F.A.C.
Unauthorized harvest is prohibited within a
distance of 25 feet from the lawfully marked
lease boundaries or within the setback and
access corridors within specifically designated
high-density aquaculture lease areas and
aquaculture lease areas and aquaculture
use zones.
Oyster Regulations
Unless otherwise stated below the basic
statewide bag limit and closed seasons and gear
restrictions are listed in the chart on page 18.
A bag equals two five-gallon buckets, one
ten-gallon bucket, or 60 lbs. of culled oysters
in the shell. Undersized oysters must be
culled immediately upon harvest and returned
to the reef from which they were harvested.
Undersized oysters may number no more
than five percent (by count) of unattached
oysters per bag and no more than 15 percent
(by count) attached (such that separation
would destroy either oyster) per bag. Vessels
connected together, such as towing, may only
claim one bag limit all together. Commercial
and recreational harvest by any person during
the same day is prohibited. Bycatch from
trawling or dragging any gear over a public
oyster bar should be returned to the water
as closely as possible to the beds where taken
and transport and sale of bycatch or oysters
taken intetenchenloly is prohibited. Wholesale
and retail dealers may not sell oysters unless
they are labeled and traceable to the point of
harvest.
Upon leaving an area, harvesters must
pass through a monitoring station when in
operation. Harvest on leased parcels is subject
to the established rules unless otherwise
exempted by the approved lease provisions.
Harvest from public reefs is prohibited from
July 1 – Sept. 30, except as provided below.
In Wakulla, Dixie, and Levy Counties, harvest
is prohibited from June 1 – Aug. 31.
In Indian River County, harvest is prohibited
within 75 feet of the shoreline of the Indian
River, any canal bank, or any privately owned
submerged lands, or dock without written
permission of the owner. In Volusia County,
oysters harvested from an approved public bar
may not be stockpiled onto a lease.
Oyster Harvesting In Apalachicola Bay* the following seasonal bag limits and closures apply:
Season
Closed days/Areas/Bag limit
June 1 - Aug. 31
Harvest is prohibited on Fridays and Saturdays. Harvest is allowed only in areas referenced in paragraph 5L – 1.003(1)
Table 2 of the DACS Comprehensive Shellfish Control Code.
July 1 – Sept. 30
20 Bags per person per day or vessel, which ever is less.
Sept. 1 - Nov. 15
Harvest is prohibited on Saturdays or Sundays.
Oct 1 - June 30
20 bags per person per day.
Nov. 16 - May 31
Harvest is allowed any day of the week, except upon notice of DACS, harvest will be prohibited on Saturdays and Sundays.
*Apalachicola Bay includes St. George Sound, East Bay, Apalachicola Bay, and St. Vincent Sound and their canals, channels, rivers, and creeks; and Indian
Lagoon and its canals, channels, rivers, and creeks.
Hard Clam Regulations
Unless otherwise stated below, the basic
statewide clam size and bag limits, closed
season and gear restrictions are listed in the
chart on page16. Clams may only be harvested
from waters certified by DACS as open for
harvest.
There is a three percent (by count) per
bag allowance for undersized clams. The
possession of unsorted clams aboard vessels
underway is prohibited. Harvest is prohibited
between one-half hour after sunset and
one-half hour before sunrise (this restriction
does not apply to properly permitted dredge
operations).
Vessel engines must be turned off during
manual use of gear. Use of rakes, dredges,
or mechanical devices is prohibited in grass
beds and pulling such gear under power is
prohibited except under a Special Activity
License. Vessels must be equipped with shades
to shield clams from the sun and cull boards or
racks with unobstructed clear space to allow
undersized clams to fall through. Undersized
clams must be immediately returned alive to
the place where taken.
In Apalachicola Bay, clams may only be
harvested by hand, diving, swimming, or
leaning from vessels, wading, and by tongs.
The use of a dredge is prohibited. In Brevard
County, divers must be certified. Harvest is
prohibited within 75 feet of the Indian River or
Banana River shoreline abutting property that
is used for residential purposes or within 75
feet of any canal bank.
SHELLFISH (OYSTERS, CLAMS & MUSSELS)
Please check www.MyFWC.com for updates
29