User blog comment:Ty Rezac/should the conch republic become a country?/@comment-4621372-20120807114554

... The conch republic's mayor declared 'independence' by breaking a loaf of bread over a nearby naval officer's head (declaring war in the same motion) then surrendering to said officer and applying for 1 billion $ foriegn aid.

Basically, it was a prank to get the government to lift the traffic restrictions blocking tourism.