More clam farmers in Alligator Harbor are hoping to try out oyster aquaculture – a move the county opposes.
The county Commission learned last week that 3 more clam leases are requesting to use the full water column in order to test oyster aquaculture.
In 2002, the state approved 46 1.5 acre leases in Alligator Harbor near Alligator Point for clam farming to allow local seafood workers to grow clams commercially.
Clams are grown on the bottom of the harbor so boats can still access the area where clam farming is taking place.
Last summer the Florida cabinet began to allow leaseholders to use the full water column on their clam leases to grow oysters.
Currently 28 of the 46 original clam leases have approval to use the full water column for oysters.
County commissioners have opposed allowing oyster farmers to use the full water column because they say it keeps commercial and recreational fishermen and boaters from operating in certain areas of the bay.
They feel, however, that the state is determined to push oyster aquaculture as the future of the industry even if the process creates divisions between oyster farmers and fishermen and shrimpers.
The County Commission did agree to send a letter to the Department of Agriculture opposing the additional oyster leases.
http://live.oysterradio.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment