The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said last week it would propose adding four more shark species to its list of protected sharks after a final public hearing in Key Largo in November.
The additional shark species to go on the FWC no-fish list are scalloped hammerheads, great hammerheads, smooth hammerheads and tiger sharks.
Research indicates that scalloped hammerheads are overfished and “experiencing pressure too high” to continue normal population levels, an FWC press release said. It also indicated the three other shark species also are suffering population declines.
Along with the additional sharks on the no-fish list, the FWC said it has directed its staff to “work with stakeholders and anglers to develop an educational campaign highlighting proper fishing and handling techniques when catching and releasing sharks.”
The staff also was directed to “explore a trophy tag program for these important sharks.” The tag would allow anglers to harvest a shark for record purposes, the release said.
Shark fishing in Florida has been regulated since 1992, when the FWC introduced a “one-share-per-person, two-sharks-per-vessel daily bag limit for all recreational and commercial harvesters, a ban on shark finning and a prohibition on two dozen overfished, vulnerable or rare shark species,” according to the release.
FWC Chair Kathy Barco said the FWC is committed to “maintaining healthy shark populations,” and realizes that sharks are “critical to the sustainability of our marine ecosystem. The additional protections we are proposing would help preserve Florida’s valuable marine resources.”
Adding the four species to the no-fish list would bring the number of sharks banned from harvest to 25, including lemon sharks, which were added in 2009.
Some charter fishing captains have opposed the addition of more sharks to the no-fish list. Capt. Bill Goldschmitt of Sarasota said in July at a public meeting with FWC officials in Sarasota that he thinks the goal of the FWC is to stop shark fishing in Florida waters altogether.
In June, several Anna Maria residents proposed that shark fishing be banned entirely from the Rod & Reel Pier and the city pier, and requested that chumming for sharks be prohibited. The proposal came after the residents saw a picture in The Islander of a bullhead shark that was caught at the R&R Pier. That shark was released unharmed.
After the November hearing in Key Largo, the FWC will meet and formally adopt new regulations.
The Florida Constitution gives the FWC the power to regulate fishing in Florida in both fresh and saltwater. The FWC regulates Florida fishing out to 3 miles on the Atlantic coast and 9 miles on Florida’s Gulf coast.