Shellfish harvesting areas are subject to change due to changes in environmental conditions and/or new surveys becoming effective. Before harvesting, you should contact the Florida Department of Agriculture, Shellfish Environmental Assessment Office Port Charlotte Office (941-255-0083) or Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Office (239-332-6966) for an up-to-date status of the area.
Oysters and clams feed by continuously filtering algae, larvae, and particles of organic matter from the water. They also filter out bacteria and viruses. If these filter-feeding shellfish are harvested from waters contaminated by bacteria or viruses (areas not approved for shellfish harvesting based on water quality), and eaten raw or only partially cooked, they may still contain living microbes which can cause serious illness. Harvest ONLY from conditionally approved areas when they are not closed.
Lee County Shell Ordinance, Chapter 68B-26 F.A.C. This law restricts the harvesting of live shells. There is no live shell harvesting in most of Lee County. Oysters, hard clams, venus clams, bay scallops, and coquinas are excluded. Florida fishing license is required.
Marine Nursery Grounds & Native Habitat
Seagrasses and mangroves contribute significantly to a dynamic food chain that draws nutrients from the sea. As seagrass and mangrove leaves decay, they provide food for small creatures which are ultimately consumed by larger predators.
Seagrasses
Seagrasses are flowering underwater plants which grow at shallow depths in protected bays and in patches along the continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. As a nursery environment, seagrasses support small fish, shrimp, and crabs which use the protection afforded by dense meadows of seagrass. Seagrasses also stabilize shifting sands on the bottom and improve water quality by trapping fine sediments and particles. Damage from watercraft can be severe in areas. As vessels carve through shallow grass flats, their props cut sandy trenches which inhibit seagrass growth. These “prop scars” may remain barren for years before seagrasses reestablish themselves. To help preserve the seagrass meadows in Lee County, stay within marked channels and avoid shallow grass flats. If you run aground or enter grass flats to fish, stop your motor, tilt it up, and pole or push your boat through.
Mangroves
Mangroves are tropical trees that thrive in salty environments along the waters edge. Like seagrasses, they provide food and cover for a vast array of small fish and animals. Their roots anchor shorelines, and their branches serve as nesting sites for a wide variety of birds.
Oyster Bars
Oysters are immobile shellfish that filter water as they feed. Live and dead oysters form in mounds on the bay floor, creating bars or reefs. Most prevalent near river mouths and in sections of the bay which receive a steady diet of freshwater, oyster bars attract adult snook and redfish, making them popular fishing spots. Exercise caution when boating in these areas. Oyster bars may be severely damaged, as well as the vessel bow or boat motor. Shellfish harvesting is regulated in Florida.