Boca Raton Marine Advisory Board votes against shark fishing ban

The Boca Raton Marine Advisory Board met Wednesday to discuss the proposed shark fishing ban on Boca Raton beaches.

Although most of the attendees of Wednesday’s meeting were in favor of the ban, the board chose to vote against banning shark fishing, reported Rebekah Monson of the Sun Sentinel.

The board appeared to have voted against the ordinance because of their concern with the state law that designates the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as the ones in charge of regulating fisheries.

Residents argued that although the sharks are in the water, it is not natural for fishers to be luring them in from offshore while swimmers are present. They also claimed that shark fishing could hurt Boca Raton’s tourism by discouraging visitors to feel safe in the water.

The Board recommended banning “fishing on beaches with lifeguards from sunrise until sunset” and that the City Council rejects the ordinance as it is currently written.

The City Council is expected to receive the Board’s newest recommendations and could take the ordinance up again as early as Tuesday Feb. 8.