The laws that govern Brazil and its natural resources are not the same as the
laws that govern wetlands in the United States.  Most wetlands are fragile
ecosystems and any change or damage to them is closely regulated by many
government agencies.  Prop scars from motorized boats remain for years and
years.  Fragile systems may never recover.  Dredging is dredging...no matter the
size of dredge used.  If the soft bottom or hard bottom is protected, this
protection applies to individuals as well as corporations.  Many areas in
Florida have some measure of legal protection in place to prevent destruction of
species as well as habitat.  There are laws requiring scanning for artifacts
before disturbance of certain areas.  My suggestion is that any person
considering dredging in Florida should be aware of any laws that may or may not
apply to their operation.  And if they feel that no laws apply to their actions,
then they should, at the very least, consider any potential damages to Santa
Rosa Sound.  Also, is this individual considering the use of the dredge to
simply expedite his search for shells while vacationing in this area?

Santa Rosa Sound contains some of the few remaining viable beds of seagrasses in
the Pensacola Bay System.  Thalassia (turtle grass) is present in this area and
will suffer serious damage if it is dredged.

Marcus Coltro wrote:

> We have been dredging for many years in Brazil, and thanks to that we found
> many new species for science. If you ever dived you will know that the sea
> bottom isn't a "calm" place and after a hurricane the bottom changes a lot
> (ask to someone who dived after Andrew's Hurricane in Florida...). Of course
> we must preserve the environment, but lets not be "Talibans"... If you
> dredge using a small dredge you will not create any damage to the
> environment! We gave scientists all over the world important information
> about our ecology, using our own dredge and the Rio Grande University (which
> is much bigger than ours). Don't worry, everything that disturbs too much
> Mother Nature, she will find a way to make it extint! (and you bet it
> include our species...)
>
> Marcus
>
> >From: Mary Canada <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: dredge design
> >Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002 09:14:23 -0500
> >
> >Why are you wanting to dredge in this area?  Won't pulling a dredge (no
> >matter how small) create a swath of destruction to the natural bottom?  Are
> >there seagrasses growing in this area?  It seems to me that pulling a
> >dredge
> >behind your boat will create something quite similar to the prop scars
> >created by boats when they ground in the flats. Have you considered the
> >prospect of habitat destruction?  And if so, have you checked with local
> >and
> >state government agencies to see if a permit for dreding is required?
> >Mary
> >
> >"James M. Cheshire" wrote:
> >
> > > Dear all,
> > > This is a short, simple request, as is usual of me. I'm looking to build
> > > a dredge which can be towed behind a small boat. I plan to use it in the
> > > Santa Rosa Sound near Pensacola, so it'll need to be tough to resist the
> > > chunky bottom debris that's often present. Does anyone have a good
> > > design?
> > >
> > > Thanks In Advance,
> > > James
> > >
> > > James M. Cheshire
> > > (a.k.a. Jeremiah Chess)
> > > 3185 Raccoon Valley Rd.
> > > Granville, Ohio 43023-9472
> > > USA
>
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