Marine debris is a growing problem worldwide that has recently commanded interest and urgency within scientific and consumer communities alike. In addition to being an aesthetic nuisance, marine debris can complicate navigation, entangle and kill marine life, harbor communities of pathogenic bacteria and leach harmful chemicals into the environment. By far the greatest contributor of plastic debris to the marine environment is trash from land-based sources. Yet, commercial fishery and aquaculture industries have received considerable criticism for loss or abandonment of gear made with synthetic materials. The types of gear that are sometimes lost to the environment include cages, bags, ropes, pipes and cover netting. I n Florida, clam cover net is by far the most abundant and problematic aquaculture debris. Since lost aquaculture and fishing gear is highly visible to the public and may cause fish, bird, and marine mammal deaths, solutions to alleviate this problem will support public acceptance of aquaculture practices and enhance sustainability of the industry.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service, Division of Aquaculture (FDACS) has taken a proactive role in developing a streamlined permitting system and regulations that will promote the growth of the industry, while also ensuring public safety and environmental sustainability. Florida is one of few states in the nation to have developed mandatory regulations for aquaculture gear management which re quire compliance with a variety of sustainable farming practices and include language directly addressing shellfish aquaculture gear loss and retrieval. FDACS' annual shellfish harvester training, required for all registered shellfish aquaculturists and commercial shellfish harvesters in Florida, also includes marine debris prevention and removal training.
Beyond regulations, FDACS conducts a variety of activities to provide oversight, education and novel prevention strategies for the shellfish industry. As a majority of gear loss occurs due to severe weather events, FDACS and the University of Florida have hosted aquaculture gear management and hurricane preparation workshops with the industry for several years. In areas of the state with an abundance of aquaculture leases, FDACS conducts routine and post-storm debris surveys to quantify the abundance of derelict gear and provide spatial maps which are then used to guide industry led cleanup events. T o provide practical and accessible disposal options to farmers, FDACS and local shellfish associations have funded dumpsters placed near commercial boat launches and processing plants for year , and these dumpsters are still heavily utilized by the industry today. Increasing a ccess to disposal options in rural areas has been very successful in improving industry compliance. Research is also underway to investigate a biodegradable alternative to plastic clam cover nets which would provide a cost-effective yet environmentally friendly gear option . As shellfish aquaculture activities are highly visible to the public, solutions to environmental and perception issues will play a key role in the future development of the shellfish aquaculture industry in the United States.