Mary,

I didn't mean to break the law, just about the damage  a dredge could do. Of
course people need to check if they can do that or not - but still, I don't
believe a small dredge will harm any environment...
We documented all material dredged we got in the past, which can be useful
to anyone studying shells here. If the shells stayed untouched there, they
would die and no one would know about their existence. After all, are we
collecting shells or what? Also, I suggest using a small dredge not dinamite
or shrimp nets (which really damage the bottom). And I would never do this
in a protected place - I don't feel comfortable in jail!

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 14:58:47 -0500
>
>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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