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To: Board of County Commissioners - <br />From: Paul G. Bengal, County Attorney 7'1 3 2 -- <br />Re: Proposed Land Crab Ordinance <br />Recommendation: <br />It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners consider the proposed <br />ordinance prohibiting the taking or harvesting of land crabs, open a public hearing, <br />entertain public comment, and adopt Alternative "8" of the proposed ordinance. <br />Discussion: <br />Attached are two versions of a proposed ordinance regarding the cardisoma <br />guanhumi, also known as the land crab or giant land crab. Alternative "A" was the original <br />proposal. Alternative "B" is a version that was modified following comments from the <br />Sheriff's Office. Also attached is a copy of correspondence dated November 16, 20011 <br />from Terese Herber, regarding the land crab. This matter has been set for public hearing <br />for adoption of the proposed ordinance. <br />The Chairman opened the public hearing and asked if anyone wished to be heard <br />regarding this matter. <br />Terese Harber, 949 Potomac Way, Sebastian, Park Ranger at Sebastian Inlet, stated <br />that she has been driving the same road since 1979 and there used to be hundreds or <br />thousands of crabs crossing the road during egg -laying season. In the last few years, she has <br />only seen 5 or 10 crabs at a time. People have been harvesting these crabs by the hundreds <br />while creating a safety hazard by crossing the road in the dark. They also drive the crabs out <br />of their burrows by pouring bleach into the holes, creating a dangerous environmental <br />situation. <br />Blair Witherington, Biologist with Fish and Wildlife Commission at Sebastian Inlet, <br />also commented on the safety issue of people being in the roads on foot at night He added <br />that there are only a few concentrations of these crabs left. Indian River County is in a <br />FEBRUARY 5, 2002 <br />• <br />Din <br />• <br />-49- <br />