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Public comments: resident calls for action on blue crabs; question raised about Morning Star Fields chicken farm
Summary
A resident urged replenishment of blue crab habitat and stock; a second commenter asked whether the board has discussed a proposed Morning Star Fields chicken farm and potential impacts on the Indian River Lagoon.
Two members of the public addressed the board at the Jan. 7 meeting with concerns about local and regional environmental issues.
Brent Wallenberg told the board he has been releasing blue crabs around fish‑cleaning tables for about 16 years and argued that restoring calcium‑rich sand and shell substrate in estuaries would help juvenile crabs feed and recover. He said he has released “at least 200 blue crabs around every fish cleaning table” and described blue crabs as ecologically important, adding, “fishing is Sebastian’s bread and butter.” He urged the board to consider the issue and to allow members of the public to place the matter on a future agenda.
A Zoom participant, Ray Osborne, asked whether the board had previously discussed a company called Morning Star Fields and a proposed chicken farm described in a Treasure Coast Newspapers article by Timothy O’Hara. Osborne said he was concerned about potential runoff and nutrient loading from poultry operations into the Indian River Lagoon and asked for board comment on whether the issue had been discussed. No board members provided substantive comment at the meeting; staff invited both commenters to place the issue on a future agenda for fuller consideration.
No board action was taken in response to either comment during the Jan. 7 meeting.
