Florida: Controversial Shark Fishing Tournament Rewards Killing

The fisherman Corey Hexter shared on social media a flyer for the event, which is scheduled to take place on 9 July 2022 in Jupiter, Florida.

Participants must pay $100 per boat, and the three heaviest sharks are rewarded with cash prizes. WarBird Tournaments LLC is the organizer of the controversial shark fishing tournament.

Hexter stated in the headline of his post that the problem can now finally be addressed. He added that other marine biologists and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are present to investigate the shark issue and gather information.

The comments sparked outrage among local animal welfare advocates and concerned residents.

Legally permitted

State laws restrict participants to taking one catchable shark per person and two per boat, but many people are concerned that this rule will not be followed.

An advocacy group called OneProtest has launched a petition against the competition, which has so far received over 110’000 signatures.

Local underwater photographer Rayna O’Nan of Ocean Rays Photography stated that she is concerned about the damage this competition will cause to the ecosystem. Sharks are extremely important, as they are apex predators that govern entire populations.

The impact this competition will have on the local ecosystem also concerns other divers.

Bull sharks are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, and their populations are declining — even if participants catch only these sharks. According to Greenpeace, major fishing nations kill 100 million sharks annually, which has contributed in part to the observed population decline of more than 70% over the past 50 years.

Statement from NOAA and FWC

Katie Wegner, a spokesperson for NOAA, explained that sharks are among the highly migratory species and that NOAA Fisheries therefore does not organize or sponsor shark fishing tournaments.

The rules for each vessel regarding state-protected sharks are known to the tournament organizers. All participants must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws as well as tournament rules. Enforcement action may be taken against vessel owners and operators who violate state and federal regulations.

To stop overfishing and promote population growth, NOAA Fisheries manages all of these species. All domestic fisheries regulations are based on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which is consistent with this legislation.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) stated that while it is aware of the tournament, it does not have the authority to stop it.

Emily Abellera, a spokesperson for the FWC, explained that they are aware that a shark fishing tournament has been announced for July 9 in southeastern Florida.

The FWC in Florida is not required to approve fishing tournaments. However, they must comply with local, state, and federal fishing laws. The FWC has no authority to cancel fishing tournaments», as the FWC does not need to issue permits for these events. Even though the FWC does not sponsor these events, it can speak with tournament organizers about fishing laws, best practices, or opportunities to collect scientific data or samples through tournament activities.

To ensure that anglers catch the correct number of the right species, it is noted that the FWC sends officers.

Abellera also said that FWC law enforcement officers are aware of the tournament and will continue to patrol and protect the state's waters and resources. The designated officers will include these activities in their daily patrol plan and, as always, will address any violations they find by taking appropriate action.

"It's mainly a money-making venture, similar to ‘legal’ trophy hunting in Africa," said Raven Lynette, a diver and shark activist from California. «The people who pay for these permits are mainly fishermen who are not educated about the importance of sharks or simply think that sharks are the enemy competing with them for their catch. They are not interested in ‘research’. No observers are required for these tournaments, making it easy for fishermen to kill and dump protected species. Furthermore, there is NO reason to kill sharks, regardless of whether they are protected or not. They are in severe overall decline.»