Comment from Lorrie Tanksley, Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Board of Realtors

I have lived in the Charlotte Harbor area since 1979, a large boating community, which would be greatly impacted by a ban on dock building, dredging, etc., limiting waterfront ownership rights. This would be a negative effect on our local economy as many people come to buy here in the area for the boating and fishing year round. Docks provide shelter/cover for fish. They do not harm the fish. When we had a decline in the redfish population years ago and took steps to revitalize the species, it has worked, and docks were/are still being built. I think we can also work through revitalizing the smalltooth sawfish population as well; perhaps through farming and release programs as the redfish were.