The shel 1 fisheries are valuable in Northwest Florida. In 1972 in Frank- 

 lin County, for example, about 5.9 million lb of fish were landed of which 85% 

 (5.0 million lb) were shellfish. Shellfish abundance is dependent upon the 

 quality and quantity of approved Class II shellfishing waters throughout Flor- 

 ida. Potential increases in the shellfish industry were examined by Bell and 

 Canterbury (1976). This study, sponsored by the National Commission on Clean 

 Water, forecasted that if the goals of the Clean Water Act were met in Flor- 

 ida, the annual shellfish production by species would increase as follows: 

 shrimp by 19.7 million lb, spiny lobster by 10.5 million lb, oysters by 15.2 

 million lb, crabs by 8.9 million lb, clams by 1.1 million lb, and scallops by 

 0.765 lb. Menhaden production also would increase yearly by nearly 14 million 

 lb if the goals of the Clean Water Act were attained. 



The relative value of wetlands and Class II fisheries can be estimated 

 through contemporary environmental economic methodology. Edmunsten (1977) 

 surveyed the eight coastal counties from Escambia on the west to Wakulla on 

 the east. Fifteen estuarine systems were identified including the major Class 

 II productive resources of Northwest Florida. Bell (1977) used the Edmunston 

 data and calculated an estuarine value of $60.91 per acre. A study completed 

 by Gosselink et al. (1973) gives a value of $75.00 per acre for Florida's 

 estuaries. Bell estimated that $13.83 per acre may be lost within the Class 

 II estuarine areas of Santa Rosa County if the Navarre Pass is allowed to 

 open. 



Other estimates of damage by pollution verify the high value of fisheries 

 in estuarine and coastal waters. Terbonne (1973) estimated that the annual 

 economic loss to the fishery from water pollution alone in the Pensacola area 

 in 1972 was over $3 million. This loss can be further magnified throughout 

 the economy by multiplier effects. 



Ecological Stress Induced from Natural and Manmade Factors 



Since about 1960, extensive areas of Florida's interior wetlands have 

 been dredged, diked, and drained, which has led to major alteration of North- 

 west Florida's coastal wetlands. Major coastal ecological alterations are 

 habitat stress, dune destruction, reduced flow of detritic food sources for 

 aquatic life, decreased dissolved oxygen, increased coliform counts, and 

 reduced runoff through natural systems. Natural eroding processes, such as 

 beach and river erosion, and man-induced destruction of natural vegetation and 

 habitat, have reduced wildlife potentials in the area. 



Northwest Florida is an area of great hydrologic activity because of its 

 long and dynamic coastline, tidal influences, and extensive river networks 

 with high volume flows. Beach erosion is common on barrier islands and shore- 

 line spits that reach into the gulf. Franklin County, with seven beaches, has 

 the most serious beach erosion. 



Almost every county in Northwest Florida has undergone relatively severe 

 habitat alteration. Most dominant is the destruction of natural vegetation by 

 clear-cutting, drainage, diking, and channelization, or monoculture of pine 

 and pasture lands. The value of tidal marshes has been estimated to be $5.91 

 per acre or a capitalized value of $69.10 per acre using a 10°/ discount rate 

 (Lynne 1978). 



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