The purpose of this rule amendment is to create regionally-specific bay scallop seasons based on community needs and input throughout the harvest area by modifying the regulations found in 68B-18, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). The effect of this rule will be to extend the bay scallop open harvest area through Pasco County, set long-term bay scallop season dates throughout the open harvest area, implement reduced bay scallop harvest limits during June for the area open to harvest prior to July 1, and allow for the direct transit of legally-harvested bay scallops across closed areas.