12/12/1984 - Laserfiche WebLink

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® E CW BOOK 9 PA.,� 18 Fred Mensing informed the Board that he works for Sembler & Sembler, which firm has been in the seafood business in Sebastian for 80 years. They went into the clam business this year, and are one of two licensed shellfish dealers in the county. Mr. Mensing continued that the State has people who regulate the water quality where clams can be taken and they can close down certain areas. He noted that in this County there are no depuration plants where clams which are removed from prohibited waters can be made safe to be put on the market. All clamming I that is going on in Brevard County is in prohibited waters. In Indian River County clamming is allowed in very restricted areas from slightly south of Sebastian Inlet to just south of Pelican Island on the west side of the waterway and in an area from Indrio on the south to just above Blue Hole Point on the west side of the Intracoastal. All the rest of the county is either prohibited or unclassified. Mr. Mensing further informed the Board that Sembler & Sembler is involved in a lawsuit over a Brevard County law which specifies that all shellfish taken in Brevard County must be taken to a Brevard County shucking house, and this is due to go to court on the 17th. take. Discussion continued regarding action the Board wished to Richard Schuler informed the Board that he does some clamming periodically, but not on a commercial basis. He did agree the limitations set by the Legislature are very much needed; his problem, however, is that if they say you can't disturb a grass flat, then you won't find any place where an individual can walk in the river and find a few clams for themselves. He noted that you don't find clams in the grass beds, but alongside of them. He did believe this activity needs to be regulated in some fashion. ON MOTION by Commissioner Bird, SECONDED by Commissioner Bowman, the Board unanimously 66 s