Departments



Articles

Less

Editorial: Help Elect Cedar Key News` Board of Directors
April 13th, 2003

Editorial: Cedar Key News: A Progress Report
March 11th, 2003

Editorial: Mercedes Meets the Mud
February 28th, 2003

Editorial: Happy New Year to All
December 29th, 2002

Editorial: Letter to the Editor - Thank You C.K. Police for Doing Your Job
December 15th, 2002

Editorial: Poll Results: Fact, Fiction, or Propaganda?
December 4th, 2002

Editorial: WANTED
November 27th, 2002

Editorial: 1,2,3,4 What Are We Fighting For?
October 10th, 2002

Editorial: Do We Really Want Law Enforcement in Cedar Key?
August 15th, 2002

Editorial: Levy County Emergency Management
July 26th, 2002

Editorial: We Have Our Own Heroes
July 17th, 2002

Editorial: Take a Little Time!
July 3rd, 2002

Editorial: Water Management District Trying Its Best
June 26th, 2002

Editorial: Bribery and Misuse of Public Office
June 25th, 2002

Editorial: Police Officer`s Improper Conduct Case Fades Away
June 24th, 2002

More

Orders From the Top

Orders From the Top

Editorial

A recent press release by the top dog in the Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Charles Bronson, said that he had ordered the arrest of two young Cedar Key men for stealing clams. It is about time! After many reports of clam poaching and thefts of clam seed, and a formal request from the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association, Commissioner Bronson assigned an investigator to the poaching problem. That was about two years ago.


The press release mentioned the difficulty in catching poachers. Yet for nearly two years promises that the, Division of Agriculture Law Enforcement would have a boat for its investigator have not been fulfilled. The most recent promise was that there would be a boat by July 1, presumably in the year 2004. The most recent report is that a boat is being built. If Noah had been this slow....


The press release mentioned theft of clams worth more than $40,000. In Cedar Key; that is big money. Furthermore, stolen clams are no doubt sold below the market price. That undercuts the price of legitimate and properly processed clams sold by clam farmers. The victims of clam poaching suffer serious economic damage. So does every clam farmer that must compete with cheap stolen clams.


The $2500 reward for information leading to arrests for poaching is not enough. Let`s hope that Commissioner Bronson will devote enough resources, personnel and boats to severely reduce clam poaching.

Click for printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

 

 

© 2013
Cedar Key News

cedarkeynews@gmail.com