Florida's shore-based shark-fishing enthusiasts are about to receive a new set of regulations.

Next week, at its regularly scheduled meeting in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to approve several modifications to fishing regulations for sharks. The majority of the changes will affect anglers who enjoy targeting large coastal sharks while fishing from beaches.

The changes were requested following an FWC meeting in April 2018. Then, 21 speakers addressed the seven-member commission pleading for them to do something about uncontrolled shark fishing from beaches. Speakers stated there were problems with anglers using chum at the beaches, hauling large sharks out of the water for photos endangering the lives of the sharks, and the association with using bait at beaches where swimmers enter the water.

The FWC responded by holding 10 public workshops statewide in July and August. Feedback collected from those workshops and guidelines collected from shark researchers and anglers were used to craft several changes to regulations. It is the hope of the FWC that the regulations will result in "further advancement of the conservation of Florida shark populations," according to Jessica McCawley, FWC director of marine fisheries management.

Changes

FWC staff is recommending instituting a mandatory, no-cost annual shore-based shark fishing permit for all shore-based shark fishers 16 and older. Obtaining the permit would likely require mandatory completion of an online "Shark Smart" course teaching proper fishing methods and ethical treatment of sharks. Also included in the new regulations is prohibiting the practice of chumming when fishing from beaches.

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According to the FWC, "chum" is not presently defined in its marine fishery rules. The proposed definition of chum, as described in the presentation FWC staff will present to the commission Wednesday, includes "animal products, real or synthetic, placed into the water for the purpose of attracting, but not actively harvesting, a marine organism."

Prohibiting the use of chum for shark fishing would not be applied to vessel- or pier-based anglers, although many public piers already prohibit the use of chum.

The immediate release of sharks prohibited from harvest — 26 species are currently on the state's list — is another regulation change.

Three regulation changes apply to anglers fishing for sharks from shore or vessels. Prohibited sharks must remain in the water at all times, not lifted aboard a boat or dragged onto a beach, even for a photo opportunity. Anglers must have in their possession, and use when appropriate, proper cutters for lines or hooks. Anglers must use non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks. The circle hook rule is consistent with shark fishing regulations in federal waters.

Outcomes

FWC staff hopes to achieve several outcomes with these regulation changes. The organization hopes to improve upon shark mortality rates. In recent years, large dead sharks, like tigers and hammerheads, both prohibited from harvest in Florida waters, have been found washed ashore dead. In some cases, the dead sharks were found close to where social media photos indicated similar sharks had been caught a day or two prior to being found. In most cases, necropsies, when one was conducted, were unable to indicate what had caused the sharks' deaths.

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Prolonged fight times combined with dragging large sharks up onto a beach for photos could be adding to shark deaths, according to shark researchers. The large majority of species of sharks are unable to breathe once removed from the water. Long battles increase lactic acid buildup in the muscles of the sharks and stress can add to the likelihood of shark death.

The FWC is likely to develop a protocol for reporting the deaths of these large prohibited sharks, too.

A second outcome the FWC hopes to achieve is to reduce conflicts between anglers who fish for sharks and other user groups such as beachgoers or waterfront property owners. Since many of these conflicts are occurring on beaches, and since current fishing regulations do not already do so, the FWC decided it would need to define the term "beach." For the purpose of shark regulations, a beach is defined as "any saltwater shoreline covered in enough sand above the mean high tide line to support sunbathing."

The two-day meeting will also include several other votes by the commission, which has one vacant seat. Other discussions include:

Aquatic plant management. The controversial use of herbicides on Florida lakes by FWC staff is likely to draw a spirited discussion from a long list of speakers.

Blue Heron Bridge dive site in Palm Beach. Final rule approval is expected prohibiting take by anyone, including aquariums and research institutions.

Hunting rule changes for the 2019-2020 hunting season.

Deer management rule changes. Setting a statewide uniform bag limit is among the items to be discussed.

Discussion on a draft rule for placement and regulations of bird traps.

FWC Meeting

Dates: Feb. 20-21

Location: Best Western Gateway Grand, 4200 N.W. 97th Blvd., Gainesville

Hours: Meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. each day

Information and agenda: MyFWC.com Commission Meetings