On Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved draft changes to the state’s shark fishing regulations during its winter meetings in St. Augustine.
Among the new FWC draft rules that were approved to move to a final vote:
- Creating a mandatory, no-cost, annual shore-based shark fishing permit.
- Prohibiting chumming when fishing for any species from the beach.
- Prohibiting delaying the release of prohibited shark species when fishing from the shore.
- Requiring that prohibited shark species remain in the water (when fishing from shore and 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).
- Cleaning up and updating the current rule language.
According to the FWC, the new rules, which came after months of seeking public input, will increase survival of released sharks, improve information gathering about the fishery and address some of the public safety concerns related to the fishery.
The draft rules will be brought back before the FWC Commission for final approval in February.
“Shore-based shark fishing is a high interest topic with passionate stakeholders advocating for diverse management actions and philosophies,” the FWC stated in its summary memorandum. “Increased public interest in shark conservation combined with growing human use of coastal areas and increasing attention surrounding SBSF has led to increasing public concerns about shark mortality and disagreements about the compatibility of SBSF and other shore-based recreational activities.”
Interested in learning more about safe and responsible shore-based shark fishing? Check out the Sharkophile’s guide to land-based fishing.