Shark Tourney Angers Officials

May 20, 2009

Release from: Ryan Hiraki
News-Press.com (Florida)

A shark fishing tournament planned for the first weekend in June at Fort Myers Beach is drawing fire from Lee County commissioners, who want to protect sharks from harm and promote swimming at their beaches.

Commission Chairman Ray Judah is looking into how the tournament is run - specifically, where the fishing occurs and how many sharks are caught, killed and released. Judah plans to bring the issue back to the board for discussion at next Tuesday's meeting.

The event has captured Judah's attention because it has grown into a festival, although the only shark fishing that commissioners can regulate is from county land, not in the Gulf of Mexico.

"I can't think of anything more barbaric than a shark fishing tournament," Judah said. "It's glorifying the killing of sharks in the waters off Lee County."

Jack Donlan, director of Are You Man Enough? Shark Challenge 3, said anyone who is upset lacks information.

The sharks are caught in the Gulf northwest of the beach, west of Boca Grande, Donlan said, so there is no threat to the shoreline or anyone swimming there. And most of the sharks are released.

The first two years of the tournament, dozens were caught, Donlan said. Seven were killed in the process of bringing them to shore for the competition, with the meat donated to charity.

"I'm sure once they get the facts, they'll see we're doing everything we can to have a family event, to teach people about sharks, teach them about ecology, and give them a chance to see some up close," Donlan said. "What everyone seems to be focusing on is the few sharks that will be brought back, and the heaviest one will win a $1,000 prize."

Donlan and any other tournament participants must follow Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulations. That is one shark per person per day, or two per boat per day.

"Sharks have been over-fished worldwide so we encourage catch and release as much as possible," said Lee Schlesinger, FWC spokesman. "We're not trying to throw cold water on the shark tournament, but we prefer people not take any more fish" than regulations allow.

Violations typically are second-degree misdemeanors that carry a $500 fine or a maximum 60 days in jail, said Capt. Rob Beaton of the FWC's division of law enforcement.

The other half of the event is a festival, which will require the closing of San Carlos Drive, just west of and parallel to the Matanzas Pass Bridge, from Third Street to the waterfront.

The festival will include live music, a fishing seminar for children, a boat show and a mechanical shark people can ride.

"We thought it would be a good idea to get people out to the beach and have some fun," said Mickey Ferry, the festival director and director of operations at Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurants, one of the tournament sponsors. "It's just a good thing to bring people to the beach when there's fewer people around."

Fort Myers Beach Councilwoman Jo List said she feels badly that the festival permit was approved unanimously without discussion.

"Because this council is very pro-event and welcoming visitors to the island, it never occurred to me (the event) would include slaughtering of the sharks," she said.

Mayor Larry Kiker and Councilman Tom Babcock would say only that they approved the festival and have no control over shark fishing in the Gulf, only at the beach pier.

Commissioner Tammy Hall said she was unaware of the shark fishing tournament until Tuesday, when Judah broached the issue at the county commission meeting. Hall, the commission's liaison to the county's Tourist Development Council, does not like the idea of a shark fishing tournament.

"As much as we're trying to promote tourism, to make people feel good about what's going on, I don't think displaying sharks is a good thing," Hall said.