Summary


The proposed reclassification of the Citrus County shellfish harvesting area will, for Winter months, increase the size of the conditionally approved area by 30,222 acres, from 34,250 acres to 64,472 acres, increase the size of conditionally restricted area by 1,939 acres, from 2,065 acres to 4,004 acres, and decrease the size of the prohibited area by 320 acres, from 7,700 acres to 7,380. For the Spring/Summer months, reclassification of the shellfish harvesting area will establish an approved area of 66,608 acres which will increase the size of the previous conditionally approved area by 32,358 acres, from 34,250 acres, establish a restricted area of 1,867 acres which will decrease the size of the previous conditionally restricted area by 198 acres, from 2,065 acres, and decrease the size of prohibited area by 320 acres, from 7,700 acres to 7,380. The current management of the Citrus County shellfish harvesting area is based on local rainfall. Proposed management of the Citrus County shellfish harvesting area is based on local rainfall. The average closure frequency of Citrus County Conditionally Approved Winter area is expected to decrease 4.4 days per month from 6.8 days per month to 2.4 days per month, and decrease for the conditionally restricted area by 5.0 days per month from 6.8 to 1.8 days per month. The Spring/Summer approved area only closes during emergency conditions such as red tides, hurricanes and sewage spills. A sanitary survey has been conducted that evaluated current information on pollution sources and bacteriological water quality, and recommends reclassification of the Citrus County shellfish harvesting area. This amendment places descriptions, references to shellfish harvesting area map numbers and operating criteria for the Citrus County shellfish harvesting area #37 in the document Shellfish Harvesting Area Classification Boundaries and Management Plans. These documents are hereby incorporated in subsection 5L-1.003(1), F.A.C. Additionally, this amendment provides illustrations of the Citrus County shellfish harvesting area classification boundaries in the shellfish harvesting area map #37. This map is hereby incorporated by reference in subsection 5L-1.003(1), F.A.C. Furthermore, information listed in Table 2, which was incorporated herein, is now placed into the text of Rule 5L-1.003, F.A.C., to make it more obvious to the regulated industry member.