And, finally, Gulf County, Fla. — including St. Joseph Bay — will have its 2017 scallop season.
The Gulf County bay is a popular spot to snorkel or wade for scallops. The season was originally scheduled to open July 25, but an algal bloom prompted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to postpone as a precaution.
The bloom is a natural occurrence in St. Joe Bay. If consumed in high concentrations, pseudo-nitzschia can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans, leading to gastrointestinal or even neurological problems. It does not affect scallop populations.
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