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By ROSALIND HELDERMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 18, 2000
Three local bays have been closed to shellfishing because of the threat of pollution following heavy rains Saturday.
Boca Ciega Bay, Sarasota Bay and Lower Tampa Bay all were closed to oyster, mussel and clam harvesting Sunday.
Inland pollutants, including human waste, can be swept into bays with heavy rain.
The Florida Division of Aquaculture, charged with monitoring pollutants in local water, tests the bays frequently to determine how much rainfall the state's bays can receive before pollutants might make their way into the water.
If rainfall exceeds a certain amount, the bay is closed to shellfishing, said John McDowell, environmental supervisor for the Florida Division of Aquaculture. Each bay has a different threshold.
For Boca Ciega, the level is 2.57 inches of rainfall in one day. Saturday's rains brought about 3.8 inches to the area. Boca Ciega Bay was last closed to shellfishers in October. Sarasota and the Lower Tampa area have lower rainfall thresholds, at 0.56 inches and 0.91 inches respectively. They also are closed more frequently. Sarasota Bay last was closed June 27.
McDowell assuredthat the bay water remains safe for boaters and swimmers.
"These criteria apply solely to the harvesting of shellfish," he said.
Shellfish are especially susceptible to water pollutants because they feed by pumping water across their gills. Pollutants can gather in high concentrations in their digestive systems and tissues, making them unsafe to eat.
McDowell said members of the Florida Division of Aquaculture will test bay waters for pollutants throughout the week, and the bays could reopen late this week.