“Nay” to the regulation of shark fishing from the shoreline

Hammerhead shark - credit: http://www.flickr.com/people/suneko/

Indian River County – The recent proposal to regulate shark fishing from the shore, may be at an impasse.

Following two months of heated discussions, the majority of the County Commission voted on Tuesday to reject Alan Polackwich’s, County Attorney, draft ordinance, without even allowing the courtesy of a revision.

“(Am I) disappointed? I can’t understand it,” Doug Distl, Carlton condominium manager commented, “This is Indian River County. We’re known for recreation, retired citizens and good things.”

Distl, who submitted his own proposal to ban the baiting and chumming of sharks off the beaches where people swim, has said that he didn’t want the county to become known as a shark fishing destination.

He has said that he is now going to focus on just getting the Indian River Shores, Orchid, and Vero Beach councils to at least regulate shark fishing.

In a 3-2 vote, the commissioners effectively shot down Polackwich’s draft. The motion to reject the proposal was made by Vice Chairman Bob Solari.

This rejection came after the commission had asked Polakwich to revise his proposal and put more focus into it on June 15th. Rather than banning shark fishing and chumming, the commissioners were after authority for lifeguards and sheriff’s deputies to order shark anglers to move their activities off the swimming beaches, and into remote areas.