Wait a sec. I have to wait for the medics to stop the chest compressions before I can continue.
It is rare you will see a 12' shark hanging from sailfish marina anymore. The last one (a huge hammerhead) died boatside after the captain (a marine biologist) numerous attempts to revive the fish. Even with that, he took a lot of heat from the local fishing community.
Even the taxidermy industry is changing. Now a picture and measurements are all that is needed to create a mount. The fish no longer needs to be killed.
After the CCA and recreational fishing community with much help from Florida Sportsman Magazine, lobbied to successfully ban gillnets in S. Florida, inshore species populations have rebounded. Now there is emphasis on improving water quality. We are already benefiting from inshore programs. Offshore, Delray Beach has ceased releasing effluent from its sewage outfall pipes. It won't be until 2025 until they all are required to stop.
It's never going to be perfect, and there are a lot of different interests in the resource. I think it is time for the dive community to pay more than lip service. Maybe just as the fishing community is required to purchase a license which funds preservation of the resourse, the diving community should have the same.
I wish you were right. However you aren't completely unfortunately. I agree theres lots of conservation efforts going on, but very little directed towards the shark Im afraid.
Its really common down here to overhear shark fishing stories in the bars and hear sport fishing charters punting them to their customers. Shark is considered fair game and a thrilling fun day of fishing.
Only the other month we had an idiot bragging in the Pilot House bar about how he killed the big bull shark on the Duane wreck in Key Largo. Ive been taking customers to see that shark for nearly 7 years and because of one jerk I cant anymore. I havent seen either shark there for 2 months. I did get a report of the smaller one spotted, sickly and with a huge hook and leader in its mouth.
Long lining is legal apparently. One operator took the majority of the key largo reef shark population out in ONE TRIP about 8 years ago according to locals. We rarely see them on the reefs now. You used to see them on most dives.
If I turn on my TV and look at my local listings on cable there's still plenty of shark fishing programs and theres plenty of shark fishing articles in the magazines and advertising. Theres photos on the walls of restaurants all down the East coast of Florida showing the owner / customers all proudly hanging their sharks up at the marina.
Yes, finning is illegal, but the law is very weak and the FWC seem more concerned with pythons in the Everglades and giving boaters tickets than dealing with illegal fishing. A couple of years ago a Miami resident was caught with THOUSANDS of fins drying in a shed in is yard. Dont be naive enough to think this isnt going on undetected on a massive scale.
If a Taiwanese company is motivated enough to send illegal fishing fleets to far flung places like the Galapagos and illegally fish in arguably the worlds most important sanctuary right under the nose of the international scientific community, dont you think they will be looking at ways to get their hands on all the fins swimming up and down the East Coast of FL, which is a major migratory route for sharks?
The whole shark debate centers around public perception. First issue is that many people have not heard of finning. They have no clue what is going on around the world on a massive scale. The second issue is that the shark is not a cuddly Panda or a striking looking tiger or a cute baby elephant. The issue simply doesnt get the same public level of attention due to a lack of understanding. News agencies all around the world still refer to 'shark infested waters' and run stories of 'shark attacks'
Unfortunately Florida is the shark attack capital of the world too, so that doesnt help with popular local opinion.