Florida Shore-based Shark Fishing Issues;
A Major Step Toward Protecting Florida Sharks
UPDATE: SUCCESS! On March 3, 2019, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved draft changes to shark fishing regulations and on July 1, 2019 new rules went into effect, including management changes for the shore-based shark fishery. These changes will increase survival of released sharks and address some of the public safety concerns related to the fishery. The draft rules will include: creating a mandatory, no-cost, annual shore-based shark fishing permit. Prohibiting chumming when fishing for any species from the beach. Requiring immediate release of prohibited shark species when fishing from the shore. Requiring anglers to cut the leader, line or hook to prevent delaying release of prohibited species. Requiring that prohibited shark species remain in the water (when fishing from shore or from a vessel). Requiring the use of non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hooks with live or dead natural bait (when fishing from shore and from a vessel). Requiring the possession/use of a device capable of quickly cutting the leader or hook (when fishing from shore or a vessel). - FWC
Florida Shore-based Shark Fishing Issues;
What We Want to Stop in Order to End Needless Death of Sharks in Florida Waters
(Note: some of our mission has been accomplished with the July 1, 2019 rulings, however we still have work to do. This page will serve both as an archive and mission statement for our future work for shark conservation in Southeast Florida.)
Talking Points:
• Put an end to IUCN listed and state prohibited endangered shark species tournaments, i.e. great hammerhead tournaments in South Florida
• We want greater education for catch and release fishing stakeholders including education regarding the fragility during catch and release fishing of certain species such as the great hammerhead
• Putting an end to the targeting of IUCN listed endangered large coastal sharks for catch and release fishing from Florida beaches. Targeting means using certain bait and tackle geared to specifically catch large sharks that are listed as endangered or threatened by the IUCN Red List and illegal to land in the state of Florida.
• Put an end to IUCN listed and state prohibited endangered shark species tournaments, i.e. great hammerhead tournaments in South Florida
• We want greater education for catch and release fishing stakeholders including education regarding the fragility during catch and release fishing of certain species such as the great hammerhead
• Putting an end to the targeting of IUCN listed endangered large coastal sharks for catch and release fishing from Florida beaches. Targeting means using certain bait and tackle geared to specifically catch large sharks that are listed as endangered or threatened by the IUCN Red List and illegal to land in the state of Florida.
Archival Material - How the Initiative Unfolded:
Read FWC meeting minutes to learn what we are fighting for in order to form your comments to submit to FWC. Read suggested comments below. Update March 2019: Comment period is now closed. Read new rulings here. |
FWC accepted comments regarding shore-based shark fishing. Comment period is now closed.
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RSMAS-UM study: read a study about how certain shark species respond to catch and release fishing. Hammerhead sharks are particularly vulnerable.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO:
-attend a FWC public stakeholder workshop
-Submit a public comment
-Support community shark conservation organizations
-Learn about endangered sharks in Florida
-Submit scientific studies and evidence to FWC
-Start a petition that is well-written and respectful and arrange for the petition to be given to the FWC commissioners in person
-attend a FWC public stakeholder workshop
-Submit a public comment
-Support community shark conservation organizations
-Learn about endangered sharks in Florida
-Submit scientific studies and evidence to FWC
-Start a petition that is well-written and respectful and arrange for the petition to be given to the FWC commissioners in person
Specific suggestions for what to say in your FWC public comments:
-I support making all FWC "Shark Smart Fishing" shark survival suggestions as listed on the FWC website, mandatory shark fishing LAWS instead of guidelines and that they become enforceable. (FWC's "Shark Smart" shark survival suggestions can be found at the link below.)
http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/sharks
-I support banning chumming for sharks from beaches in Florida.
-I support banning catch and release tournaments for endangered and threatened shark species such as great hammerheads and tiger sharks.
-I support cutting the line, NOT hook removal if required for immediate release of sharks.
-I support banning the use of heavy tackle and bait aimed specifically for catching large coastal sharks.
-I support making all FWC "Shark Smart Fishing" shark survival suggestions as listed on the FWC website, mandatory shark fishing LAWS instead of guidelines and that they become enforceable. (FWC's "Shark Smart" shark survival suggestions can be found at the link below.)
http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/sharks
-I support banning chumming for sharks from beaches in Florida.
-I support banning catch and release tournaments for endangered and threatened shark species such as great hammerheads and tiger sharks.
-I support cutting the line, NOT hook removal if required for immediate release of sharks.
-I support banning the use of heavy tackle and bait aimed specifically for catching large coastal sharks.