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NOV 7 1984 BOOK 58 pm E ®0? <br />TO: County Commissioners DATE: November 2, 1984 FILE: <br />Administrator <br />Attorney <br />SUBJECT: Clamming activity in the <br />Indian River <br />FROM: Patrick B. Lyons REFERENCES: <br />Vice Chairman <br />There is no question in my mind that we need to have better <br />control of this unbridled clamming activity which is occurring in <br />the North part of the County. I plan to ask for an item to be <br />added to the agenda. I want to ask the Commission to request the <br />State to put a moratorium on clamming until a proper management <br />plan can be worked out. <br />The Chairman stated that he is not really knowledgeable <br />about this subject, but it appears an armada of clammers has <br />descended on Brevard County and is depleting the clam banks. He <br />would like to find a way to stop this wholesale depletion and set <br />up something reasonable. <br />Commissioner Bird believed that these clammers are com- <br />pletely depleting the resource, but he did not know what <br />jurisdiction we have over Brevard County waters. He did feel, <br />however, that this does have an ecological effect on Indian River <br />County and possibly we could draft something to State Representa- <br />tive Dale Patchett and ask for some emergency legislation. <br />Chairman Scurlock felt when the clammers deplete that area, <br />they will move on to Indian River County waters. <br />Commissioner Wodtke agreed and noted that in some of our <br />areas, they will have to cross the grass beds in the river. <br />Attorney Brandenburg stated that the Board certainly can <br />suggest legislation, and he will investigate to see if there is <br />any way we can prevent this activity in our own waters. <br />Chairman Scurlock believed we can protect the aquatic beds. <br />Commissioner Bowman noted that there are no shell fish or oysters <br />in grass beds, and that is why the amateur is dangerous because <br />56 <br />