68B-18.008. Open and Closed Areas; Transit of Bay Scallops from Open Through Closed Areas  


Effective on Wednesday, January 1, 2020
  • 1(1) Open area – The area open to the harvest of bay scallops includes all Florida Waters along the Gulf of Mexico east and southeast of a line extending due south from the west bank at the mouth of Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County (85°25.8447ꞌ West Longitude) and north of a line extending due east and due west from the Anclote Key Lighthouse (28°10.020ꞌ North Latitude), which is approximately 0.37 miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas county line, and all waters of the Anclote River and its tribut90aries.

    91(2) Closed areas – All Florida Waters except those included in subsection (1) are closed to the harvest of bay scallops.

    112(a) A person may not harvest a bay scallop from Florida Waters that are closed to the harvest of bay scallops.

    133(b) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person may not possess a bay scallop in or on Florida Waters that are closed to harvest or land a bay scallop in an area that is closed to harvest.

    171(3) Transit provisions – Bay scallops lawfully harvested from Florida Waters that are open to the harvest of bay scallops may be possessed aboard a vessel and transported directly through Florida Waters that are closed to the harvest of bay scallops and landed provided that the vessel is in continuous and direct transit from Florida Waters that are open to harvest to the place where the vessel is regularly docked, moored, or otherwise stored.

    245Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 9-1-13, Amended 1-1-20.