Website

https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Business-Services/Aquaculture/Shellfish-Harvesting-Area-Classification

Region(s)

NE, NW, SE, SW

Summary

FDACS routinely monitors shellfish harvesting areas for the presence of fecal coliform bacteria. Each year FDACS examines thousands of water samples. The goal is to provide the most shellfish harvesting area possible while protecting the public from shellfish-borne illness. FDACS collects and analyzes data from 1,200 bacteriological sampling stations in 39 shellfish harvesting areas encompassing 1.4 million acres. Water samples at fixed stations throughout a harvest area are analyzed for fecal coliform, DO, salinity, temperature and pH.

Parameters

Fecal coliform, pH, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, daily rainfall, daily river stage (discharge), phytoplankton. Parameters uploaded to WIN include: Carbon- organic, Chlorophyll a- corrected, Chlorophyll a- uncorrected, Color- true, Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate-Nitrite (N), Nitrogen- Total Kjeldahl, Pheophytin a, Phosphorus- Total, Salinity, Temperature- Water, Turbidity, pH

Notes

Application

Classification of shellfish harvest areas

Publications

Internal for management use and daily harvest area status maps

Start

1970

End

Current

Frequency

Monthly

Method

water samples at fixed stations analyzed for fecal coliform, DO, salinity, temperature and pH. Oysters/clam samples within some of the shellfish harvesting areas

Discontinuity

Data Location

STORET/WIN

Data Format

Kedit
Data is uploaded to STORET/WIN

Habitats

Water Column Oyster/Oyster Reef

SEACAR Citation

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) - Division of Aquaculture. (2022). Shellfish Harvest Area Classification Program. Updated 05/13/2025. Distributed by: SEACAR Data Discovery Interface, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. https://data.florida-seacar.org/programs/details/540

Alternative Citation

indicates priority attributes