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BOOK M PAGE • 63 Representatives from local and state government wanted to identify a suitable location to conduct shellfish aquaculture. The emphasis was placed on aquaculture and local economic development in response to the "net ban" amendment. Implementing an economic development program based on shellfish aquaculture has been shown to be a practicable alternative to assist displaced fishermen. and to be an effective method of encouraging self-employment that takes advantage of the fishermen's skills and equipment. The AUZ offers the greatest chance of success for aquacultural development and has been very effective in other regions. There are numerous advantages to conducting aquacultural activities in a single location as opposed to having leases scattered throughout the river. The AUZ will 1) minimize or eliminate potential threau to marine resources and protect sensitive habitat, 2) consolidate aquacultural activities in one location, 3) reduce user conflicts with upland Property owners and other user groups (ie. recreational and commercial fishermen, boaters), 4) reduce hazards to navigation„ 5) diminish esthetics problems, and 6) encourage compliance with regulatory policies. 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 tate 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. The prototype operation will require individual lease parcels ranging from 2 to 3 acres. 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. 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 ft' (nursery bags for ,Juvenile clams) to 100 ft2 (growouut bags), and cover nets may exceed 500 fr'. The bags and netting are fabricated from a flexible mesh material, such as polyester. The bags and netting ore scourod to tho bottom using rebar frame., PVC stakes. or lead lines. The mesh bags and netting will bury as the substrate covers•the netting, and the clams will also actively bury themselves in the substrate. Under optimal conditions, the netting and the clams are not exposed above the substrate. Under special circumstances. additional protection may be necessary in the form of more rigid netting. trays, or heavy mesh netting. Often, additional protection is desired to reduce predation on vulnerable seed stocks. Harvesting may be accomplished by rinsing the net bags and raising them individually to a tending vessel. In cases where large areas are covered by stets. the nets are removed and the clams are harvested by hand or by raking. Harvesting will generally require the greatest amount of labor. Hard clams must be harvested according to the standards and policies established to protect public health. Marking Aquaculture Leases Parcels will be delineated using guidelines and regulations provided by the Department of Environmental Protection. the Florida Marine Patrol, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Coast Guard. For example, the "Aquaculture Use Zone" could be marked by informative signs placed at the corners. Informative signs would alert boaters to potential hazards and access routes. The size of the signs and the information that they display can be determined based on need. Individual leases within the aquaculture use zone could be marked using stakes that contain information pertinent to the specific lease. For example, stakes can be used that would not be hazardous -to navigation or cause damage if they are inadvertently hit. Certain composite materials provide the necessary strength and flexibility. Additionally, maiiting the lease corners with these stakes will make them more difficult to see when viewed firm a distance. Marking individual leases with stakes. in contrast to using informative signs, will substantially diminish aesthetic impacts. AUGUST 19, 1997