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M 9.B. PUBLIC DISCUSSION ITEM - AQUACULTURE USE - PRESENTATION BY MARK BERRIGAN, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The Board reviewed a Memorandum of May 12, 1997: TO: James Chandler County Administrator FROM: Commissioner Fran B. Adams DATE: May 12, 1997 SUBJECT: Presentation by Mark Berrigan, DEP, on aquaculture use Please schedule Mr. Berrigan under public discussion items on June 2, 1997 to give a presentation on aquaculture use. Backup information is attached. Proposed Aquaculture Activities The waters of the Indian River have historically supported shellfish production and provided the environmental quality necessary for shellfish aquaculture. A unique combination of factors has provided an excellent opportunity for developing hard clam aquaculture in the region. Hard clam aquaculture, as practiced in the Indian River, has been demonstrated to be a successful method for producing a valuable seafood product. Aquacultural operations using similar culture practices have produced hard clams for more than 15 years, without adversely affecting the environmental quality of the Indian River. Responsible management will allow shellfish aquaculture to grow in the region, while protecting the environmental quality of the Indian River. The proposed aquaculture activity requires growing hard clams using on -bottom culture techniques. This technique requires the use of the bottom and six inches of the water column. This method does not require the entire water column and represents the least exclusive use of sovereign submerged lands. Shellfish aquaculture operations within the aquaculture use zone will be confined primarily to the production of hard clams. Mercenaria spp. The prototype operation will require individual lease parcels ranging from 2 to 5 acres. Aquacultural activities, stocking and production rates, and sources of seed stocks will be described in.individual lease applications. The Department's policy requires all aquaculture leaseholders to make a bona fide attempt to grow shellfish in a density suitable for commercial harvesting, in accordance with an acceptable business plan submitted during the review and approval process. The aquaculture business plan should provide a detailed description of the planned activities and the amount of seed stocks to be planted during each year of the 10 -year term. The most common culture practices include some means for Predator exclusion using protective netting. The netting may be in the form of a bag or the netting may be placed over bottoms where clams are planted (Figure 7). Culture _bags provide protection above and below the clams, whereas netting placed above the clams only provides protection from above. Culture bags may range from about 16 ft2, (nursery bags for juvenile clams) to loo ft= (growout bags). and cover nets may -exceed 500 fe. The bags and netting are fabricated from a flexible mesh material, --such as polyester. The bags and netting are secured to the bottom using rebar.frames, PVC stakes, or lead lines. The -mash bags and netting will bury as the 23 JUNE 39 1997 BOOK 10.E FACE 661