Recreational bay scallop harvesting in the Pasco Zone has been temporarily suspended following safety testing, state wildlife officials announced Thursday.
The closure affects all state waters located south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, an area that includes the Anclote River.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the measure was taken after routine monitoring detected Pyrodinium bahamense at concentrations exceeding safety thresholds established by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. Pyrodinium bahamense is a microscopic organism capable of producing toxins that make shellfish unsafe for human consumption.
FWC stated that it is tasked with proactively testing and acting to keep residents and visitors safe.
Officials noted that the suspension remains temporary and that the Pasco Zone may reopen for scallop harvesting once follow-up testing confirms that toxin levels have dropped back down to safe limits.
While scallop harvesting is currently halted in the zone, state officials confirmed that all other water-based recreational activities—including fishing, boating, and swimming—remain permitted throughout the area.
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