I thought you all might like to know that, after 10 years of lobbying the FWC, we were successful in convincing FWC to regulate shore-based shark fishing. On July 1, the following regulations will go into effect. (Shark fishing will be defined by equipt, not whether you say you are shark fishing or not) -

- Shore based shark fishers will be required to take a training course and obtain a (free) shark fishing license (which can be confiscated if rules are violated);
- Shark fishers will be required to immediately release shark "species of special concern" (great hammerheads, etc) by cutting the leader in the water with the gills covered to decrease mortality;
- Shark fishers will be required to use non-stainless circle hooks and leaders;
- Shark fishers will be reqd to have a device capable of quickly cutting the leader or hook in their possession;

and best of all for we surfers -
- Chumming shall be prohibited when fishing for any species from shore.

I got started on this effort (alone) in 2008 after a group of mainlanders started coming to my neighborhood beach and chumming among swimmers and surfers (which, believe it or not, was legal) two or three times a week. In 2014, I was joined by a group of concerned divers and shark advocates from South Florida and together we achieved what I never believed was achievable. We had to build a huge case with photos of egregious behavior (shark fishers are their own worst enemies in this regard having posted most of it, with their commentary, on Facebook, etc), but, in the end, we convinced FWC to implement these rules. (It helped that the FWC membership had completely turned over since I began.) Unfortunately, we were unable to achieve a regulation establishing shark fishing/no shark fishing zones or minimum separation from swimmers/surfers, but, if the shark fishers don't clean up their act in this regard, FWC has promised to revisit it.

There is a lot of cynicism these days regarding government, but, this effort proves that, with enough effort, commitment and perseverance citizens can make changes.