Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission finds no violations after mutilated sharks reported on Redington Beach

Residents and beachgoers are impacted by local fishing practices and carcass disposal near swimming areas, while anglers are subject to state permitting and handling regulations.

• •The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found no violations after two dead, cut-up sharks were reported on Redington Beach on Sept. 6.
• •State officials identified the two sharks from photos as a bull shark and a blacktip reef shark.
• •Both bull sharks and blacktip reef sharks are legal to harvest in Florida.
• •A witness reported seeing a man remove a shark's tail with a fishing hook in its mouth and leave the carcass on Sunday.
• •The same witness stated that pieces of another shark were loaded into a kayak the previous weekend and dumped near swimmers.
• •Anglers in Florida must complete the Shark Smart Fishing educational course to obtain a permit, in addition to a recreational saltwater fishing license.
• •FWC officials have not confirmed whether the man cutting up the sharks held the mandatory state permit or fishing license.
• •State officials encourage tipsters to report suspected wildlife violations by calling 888-404-3922 or submitting information online.