Council member says he will seek resolution opposing shrimping at Pumpkin Hill Preserve

Councilman Mike Gay said he will pursue a council resolution asking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to pause — and reconsider — a proposal to open Pumpkin Hill Preserve to commercial and private shrimping.

Gay told the committee he had sent a letter asking Fish and Wildlife to pause and said he will attend the commission's public meeting in May in Ocala to press the city's concerns if the commission does not pause the proposal. "They are trying to open up the Pumpkin Hill Preserve to Shrimpin, commercial and private, which ... it's gonna basically ravish the shrimp," he said, adding that sports fishermen are "very upset." Gay said he plans to bring a resolution to the council and invited colleagues to contact him or join preparatory discussions before the Tuesday meeting.

Gay said he had met with Fish and Wildlife staff and that if the commission proceeds without a pause there will be additional public meetings in April and a May vote. He also said he will reach out to a Jacksonville-based commissioner to seek support. Committee leadership took note of the upcoming outreach and the committee adjourned shortly after the exchange.