The Miami Beach City Council voted unanimously in favor of banning shark fishing from the shoreline and any land structures like bridges and piers, Coastal Breeze News reports.
Miami Beach joins at least four other cities in banning land-based shark fishing. The move is primarily to keep the beach safe for visitors, but it also protects animals and the wider marine environment.
“We are targeting heavy fishing equipment that can cause serious harm to families or anyone who happens to enjoy our public beach areas,” Miami Beach Commissioner Laura Dominguez, who sponsored the measure, said in a press release.
Shark carcasses have also been found along the coastline and in nearby communities, possibly due to improper fishing, Coastal Breeze News reports.
The release further states that the legislation is intended to prevent the “intentional or negligent taking, injury or killing of sharks in or near urban waters.”
Neighboring Biscayne Bay is a breeding ground and year-round habitat for the critically endangered great hammerhead shark, according to the University of Miami.
Such legislation becomes increasingly important as rising ocean temperatures force sharks and other marine wildlife to move into new territories more frequently in search of resources and suitable habitat. This has led to an increase in human-shark encounters, thereby increasing the likelihood of attacks, making it even more important to separate humans and sharks.
Sharks and other marine wildlife, such as whales, turtles and seals, are also often accidentally caught in abandoned fishing gear, including nets set up to protect humans.
As apex predators, sharks are integral to the overall health of marine ecosystems, and overfishing is a major threat to their survival. Australia, Central Asia and Mexico have also enacted shark fishing bans.
Regarding the Miami Beach ban, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Miner said, “Not only are we reducing dangerous human-shark interactions in our swimming areas, we are also taking a firm stand against the degradation of our important marine ecosystems. This is a critical step in ensuring our world-class beaches provide a safe environment for every resident and visitor.”
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