Local Response Needed to Stem Clam Poaching

Stealing clams is a serious offence. Somehow, calling it poaching doesn't soften the economic blow to the clam farmer that is a victim of theft. Several methods of stopping clam theft have been tried, but only one method appears to work, that is an organized and persistent patrol of clam leases.

Not long after calm farming became an industry in Cedar Key bags of clams became the targets of thieves. Subsequently a houseboat base for a guard and regular presence on the leases inhibited clam theft. The success of the method led to a decline in theft, and then a decline in payment and the end of the patrol.

Once the patrol was gone thefts increased. Appeals to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs eventually resulted in a law enforcement officer popularly call the "clam cop." Long delays in providing the clam cop with a boat, and giving the clam cop a beat that includes the entire State of Florida, had resulted in continued clam thefts.

A single bag of clams ready for market can be worth about $100. A single bag of 10,000 seed calms can be worth more than $100 and are even easier to steal. Ten bags of seed calms stolen is not only a big economic loss, but impair steady production of a crop. Clam thefts hurt individual farmers and the industry as well.

Jurisdictional, evidentiary and operational problems keep a clam cop from stopping clam theft. To stop clam theft there needs to be on-the-water patrol of the clam leases.

A cooperative group of clam farmers or a patrol endorsed and financially supported by the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association could bring back an enforcement of the law. We cannot depend on the State of Florida to solve the problem.