FWC considering tougher shark restrictions in Florida waters

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering stricter rules on shark fishing in Florida waters. Shark fishing is already strictly regulated in Florida with a 1-fish-per-person/2-fish-per-vessel daily bag limit for all recreational and commercial harvesters. There is also a prohibition on fishing for nearly two dozen overfished or rare shark species, and a ban on the practice of harvesting only shark fins - called finning. The state is now proposing more regulations by prohibiting harvest of sandbar, silky and Caribbean sharpnose sharks from state waters. The proposed rules would also establish a 54-inch fork length minimum size limit for almost all shark species, would prohibit the removal of shark heads and tails at sea, allow only hook-and-line gear to harvest sharks, and make other technical shark rule changes. The proposals are designed to help rebuild shark populations many of which are considered overfished. A final public hearing on the proposed shark rules will be held during the December FWC meeting in Clewiston.