What is a scallop? I have never heard of them in Florida.
Bay scallops are bivalve molluscs that occur on Florida's west coast, in localized populations from Pine Island Sound in Lee County to St. Andrew Sound near Panama City. They are bottom dwellers living in 4–8 feet of water. They used to be harvested and sold commercially; now, only recreational anglers take them.

Where and how are scallops fished?
Bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) can be fished in state waters from the Pasco-Hernando county line to the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County from July 1 to September 10 each year. The bag limit is two gallons of unshucked animals per person per day or one pint of meat per person per day. A saltwater fishing license is required if you harvest bay scallops from a boat or use snorkel gear but not if you wade in and collect without snorkel gear.

Why can't I eat shellfish during a red tide?
"Shellfish" is a generic term used to describe a large number of marine animals—not all of which are affected by red tide. Shellfish, like the bivalve molluscs including clams, oysters, and coquinas, should not be eaten. These molluscan shellfish are filter feeders and can, therefore, filter large amounts of the red tide algae from the water and concentrate the toxin-producing algae in their gut. Other seafood also commonly called shellfish, such as crabs, shrimp, and lobster, can be eaten because they do not filter water and will not concentrate the toxin. Scallops can be eaten if only the scallop's muscle is eaten, as is normally the case. Scallop stew, which uses the whole animal, should not be eaten.

Where can I find more information about bay scallops?
Visit the Mollusc Section for more information.