By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
Last month, Sea Isle City got some unwanted media attention when the story of a fisherman catching a seven-foot sand tiger shark off the beach went viral. City officials are taking steps to make sure it never happens again.
Multiple large sharks have been caught off Sea Isle City beaches, so the city is taking action to maintain safety and avoid controversy.
During a City Council meeting Aug. 8, Mayor Leonard Desiderio announced that the city will amend rules and regulations to prohibit shark fishing on or near the beaches – and within 600 feet of the shoreline. The ban will remain in effect until a new set of rules can be established.
By shark fishing, the city means any attempt to target or harvest sharks from the sand or any structure built upon sand, like a fishing pier, jetty or bridge. It will also be illegal if a fisherman chums the water (baiting with blood or fish parts to attract sharks), or using drones to assist in shark fishing.
“The city will contact the local fishing community and the surfing community to look at long-term solutions to shark fishing off the city shore to ensure reasonable regulations promoting the continued long-term, harmonious sharing of surfing and fishing beaches by the stakeholders in these desired beach activities,” Desiderio wrote in a Sea Isle City newsletter.
City officials note that pulling a shark onto the sand and then releasing it into the ocean disrupts ecosystems and draws dangerous creatures in close proximity to swimmers, surfers and other beachgoers. Additionally, the social media attention can make tourists wary of staying on the island.
PJ Braun, a Realtor working in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, received more than 350 likes on Instagram for a photo on the Sea Isle beach holding open a sand tiger shark’s mouth. He shared his experience on “Fox and Friends,” claiming that his catch attracted crowds of over 200 people. “Everyone’s obviously happy to see a healthy release and snap a couple photos,” said Braun.
According to the Save Coastal Wildlife Foundation, tens of species of sharks either dwell in waters off the coast of New Jersey, or travel up and down the Eastern Seaboard in search of food and mates. Makos, hammerheads, bulls, tigers, threshers, dogfish, whale sharks and even great whites can either be found seasonally or year-round off our coast. Experts say an uptick in shark populations can be traced to efforts to protect harbor seals, a main food source for various shark species.
Joseph Reynolds, the founder and president of Save Coastal Wildlife, says that sharks, like humans, have an intrinsic right to exist.
“Books and movies depict sharks as bloodthirsty killers, but sharks only kill about 10 people per year worldwide,” said Reynolds. “In contrast, humans deliberately kill 100 million sharks per year as trophies or for body parts, like teeth. Instead of being afraid of sharks, we need to respect and protect them.”
New Jersey waters are home to several shark nurseries – natural sanctuaries where sharks reproduce and raise their pups without the danger of fishing or poaching. Juvenile sharks tend to stay near where they were raised to feed and avoid potential predators. There are smooth dogfish shark sanctuaries in the New Jersey tidal estuaries of Little Egg Harbor and Great Bay, near Atlantic City.
Statewide, intentional fishing of great whites, sandbar, angel, and dusky sharks is prohibited. Unfortunately, the DEP cannot prosecute illegal fishermen because when questioned on their target, anglers routinely claim to be seeking other species, like bluefish.
Sand tigers, like the one Braun caught, can swim close to shore looking for fish, and are common along most of the popular, sandy beaches up and down the Atlantic Coast. On Long Island, the sand tiger has been blamed for recent attacks – experts say those sharks are juveniles chasing bait fish and mistakenly biting feet. None of the injuries have been deadly.
Another sand tiger shark was found dead last month on the 12th Avenue beach in Longport, where an early morning beach walker spotted the animal with its belly gashed open.
“It looks like someone intentionally opened the animal post-mortem, likely after it was already on the beach,” said Dr. Harley Newton, the chief veterinarian at OCEARCH, a shark research team who witnessed the event.
Recreational and commercial anglers are required by law to release any accidental or incidental shark catches or risk being fined up to $1,250 by Sea Isle City, and more by the State of New Jersey. Yet, without proper enforcement, fishermen will continue to bait, catch and even keep sharks caught on local beaches. At least there will be fewer photos posted on social media.
Sarah Fertsch was born and raised in Egg Harbor Township, and holds a dual degree in public relations and political science. Prior to joining Shore Local full-time, she worked at a CSPAN affiliate, writing about Pennsylvania legislation. When she isn’t writing, Sarah enjoys painting, horseback riding, and Crossfit.
