FWC responds to our Email on Hammer/Tiger Ban

Just received this response to the email stating our position on the proposed Hammerhead and Tiger shark ban.We view this as a victory of sorts, they are considering a tag program such as the one used for harvesting a tarpon which would allow a potential World Record fish to be harvested if the tag has been previously purchased.We feel FWC responded directly to our pleas in this matter by taking the Tag proposal into consideration.We would be COMPLETELY vindicated if the TAG proposal was passed into law in the upcoming Key Largo meetings in November of this year.At the bottom of the letter is our Email sent to FWC in the first days of September 2011 prior to the Naples FWC commission meeting.Hooray for the sharks and the HOORAY the mistreated fishermen that target them.

Date:

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:57:23 -0400 [02:57:23 PM CDT]
From:
CitizenServices@MyFWC.com <CitizenServices@MyFWC.com>

To:info@southfloridasharkclub.com
Reply-To:
CitizenServices@MyFWC.com <myfwc_citizenservices@mailnj.custhelp.com>

Subject:
William Fundora - Proposed Tiger and hammerhead shark ban [Incident: 110906-000011]
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Subject
William Fundora - Proposed Tiger and hammerhead shark ban
Discussion Thread
Response Via Email (MF-KB)
09/30/2011 03:57 PM

Mr. Fundora,

Thank you very much for contacting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) with you concerns over the proposed rule to prohibit the harvest of tiger and hammerhead sharks. As a biological scientist with the Division of Marine Fisheries Management, I have been asked to respond to your comments.

In 2010, the FWC implemented several rules that restricted the harvest of large sharks. These rule amendments were made in response to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Coastal Shark Fishery Management Plan. During the development of these rules, FWC received a series of requests to consider further changes to shark fishery regulations and to implement an even more conservative management strategy for sharks. The recent prohibition on harvest of lemon sharks was a result of these requests. After the final public hearing on lemon sharks, the FWC Commissioners directed staff to investigate the need to prohibit the harvest of additional shark species, including hammerheads, tiger sharks and bull sharks.

The Division of Marine Fisheries Management reviewed the available population and life history data and spoke to many stakeholders about shark management before developing a group of options to amend the shark rule in state waters. These options were then taken to several public meetings around Florida. After hearing the comments from the meeting participants the data was reviewed again and the recommendations to the Commissioners to amend the rules were formulated. These recommendations were presented to the Commission at the FWC meeting on September 8, in Naples, where the Commission received input directly from the public. The Commission directed staff to proceed to a Final Public Hearing on a prohibition on harvesting tiger sharks as well as great, smooth and scalloped hammerheads. However, the Commission also expressed an interest in possibly developing a tag system that would allow anglers to purchase a tag similar to the one currently available for tarpon that could be used to harvest a hammerhead or tiger shark when in pursuit of a world record.

As directed, staff is preparing for a Final Public Hearing on the harvest prohibition for hammerheads and tiger sharks. This hearing is scheduled for November 17, at the Commission meeting in Key Largo. Staff is also proceeding with an investigation of the tag concept for these large hammerheads and tiger sharks. However, the FWC does not have the authority to establish or modify the fees associated with fishing licenses and tags. So the development of any fee associated with such a tag will require the approval of the Florida legislature.

The recommendation to prohibit the harvest of great, smooth and scalloped hammerheads and tiger sharks is warranted because of the declines that have been observed for these species and because their life history characteristics make them vulnerable to overfishing. Long term catch histories for these species have demonstrated that all under consideration have experienced severe population declines in the Northwestern Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Another important aspect to protecting these species in state waters is that Florida has a unique opportunity to help these shark stocks grow by protecting them in their essential fish habitat. These species rely on shallow nearshore waters to pup and the neonates use our waters to grow and develop. Additionally, when these sharks enter state waters they are more vulnerable to fishing pressure because they are often at known locations at known times of year.

If the Commission decides to prohibit the harvest of hammerheads and tiger sharks, anglers will still be able to catch and release these sharks and most of the anglers that provided comments said that they practice catch and release fishing already and would not be negatively affected by these rules.

Thank you again for voicing your concerns.

Sincerely,

Melissa Recks
Division of Marine Fisheries Management
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
8535 Northlake Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33412
phone: 561-625-5122
Melissa.Recks@myfwc.com

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09/06/2011 08:40 AM

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Customer By Email (Sabrina Menendez)

09/06/2011 08:40 AM

From: no-reply@myfwc.com [mailto:no-reply@myfwc.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 8:19 PM
To: FWC Commissioners
Subject: Contact Commissioners

Your Name:
William Fundora
Your E-mail:
info@southfloridasharkclub.com
Subject:
Proposed Tiger and hammerhead shark ban
Comments:
We at the SFSC know sharks need to be protected and we encourage everyone to safely release tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks back into the wild but one of our primary concerns is the erosion of big game fishing in Florida as more species are BANNED.Any species that is put on the 'no take' list cannot be claimed for a World Record from Florida waters .Soon all the big fish we once were able to target will forever be put out of reach of anglers.These lawmakers believe everything the over zealous scientist whisper in there ears so they gladly pass unjust laws that are forever changing the face of our sport.

With these Complete Bans imposed, soon there will be nothing left we can take from the ocean.We don't want the needless killing of any shark but I as a BIG GAME HUNTER am personally of the opinion that a person targetting a world record should be able to do it in a state that has always had the reputation of being"Fishing Capital of the world".Restrictions imposed on fisherman should be based on sensible scientific research and align with the well being of the masses.

Once the Tiger and Hammerhead are put on the no take list we will never get them back.For example look at the goliath grouper(jewfish)since 1989 they have been banned and they are everywhere and a nuisance to wreck and bridge fisherman both on the east coast and west coast of Florida.Even though the anglers have made FWC aware of the incredible abundance of Goliath grouper throughout Florida they have not been taken off the PROTECTED LIST, and may never be taken off.It is very important to point out how quickly FWC takes away from the anglers but is unwilling to give back or loosen restrictions.This is why it is so important that we voice our strong objections to these BANS that will forever change sport fishing in Florida.

One suggestion would be to set a one per person limit on anyone wanting to harvest a tiger or hammerhead shark and a $50 tag would have to be bought to harvest one,, the proceeds of which should go to shark research and conservation.

There are more intelligent ways of approaching this scenario and our hopes are that those in charge of reviewing these laws TRULY consider all opinions,that they consider the impact on the image of fishing in Florida and how it is being eroded one BAN at a time.

Thank you all for your concerns, we certainly hope that we can all work together and that our unity will make a difference so that these law makers can be sensible with the future of fishing in Florida.