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wm —101 <br />Mark Berrigan, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Marine Resources, <br />Aqua Coordinator, gave a brief overview of the background of the commercial shellfish industry which <br />Indian River County has supported for many years. Mr. Berrigan stated that production has recently <br />increased dramatically and is now up to 15 to 20% of the nation's supply. The State has tried to <br />encourage this development which provides jobs and a source of revenues for the County and State. <br />This is a very environmentally -friendly industry. <br />Mr. Berrigan continued that 2 years ago the Legislature passed a number of laws to encourage <br />the development of aquaculture and is now in the process of working out an arrangement with Pelican <br />Island National Wildlife Refuge to swap some lands. He was seeking a formal request from the Board, <br />showing their support for the project, and requesting a public workshop to provide information to the <br />citizens. <br />Dorn Whitmore, from Fish & Wildlife in Titusville, emphasized the benefits to Pelican Island <br />Wildlife Refuge of the land swap. They have been working with the DEP for the last several years on a <br />site for an Aquaculture Use Zone but were concerned about the issue of commercialization in a wildlife <br />area. They already have 6 shellfish leases with 3 of them very close to Pelican Island and are working <br />on a public use area north of the Island. The leases are 10 -year leases which, if abandoned, will revert <br />back to the Refuge. The land swap will involve 125 acres being removed from the Refuge. In <br />exchange for this 125 acres, the Refuge is asking for an amendment to their existing lease with the <br />State under which all waters are managed. The amendment to the lease would address the declining <br />bird population and the increasing human population and boating activity which has affected nesting <br />and wading birds. The Refuge has asked for a zone to regulate the waters around Pelican Island to <br />establish an additional zone for protection of the birds. Additional lands owned by the State will be <br />included in their lease for a buffer zone around the Island. <br />ON MOTION by Commissioner Adams, SECONDED by <br />Commissioner Ginn, the Board unanimously approved support of the <br />Aquaculture Use Zone and made a formal request to the Department <br />of Environmental Protection for a public workshop. <br />30 <br />JUNE 39 1997 <br />