SoCal Anglers Trying To Hook Great White Sharks Causing Safety Concerns (And It’s Not Allowed)
Great white sharks are swimming off the Southern California coasts, and anglers are reportedly (illegally) targeting the large predators, which is also creating safety concerns.
Check out video above from ABC’s Los Angeles TV affiliate, with some additional details from the story:
People casting lines from area piers are creating a potentially illegal and dangerous situation, not only for the animals, but for swimmers and surfers, too.
“The biggest worry is they hook into a big shark. That’s going to drag out a lot of line. There are people swimming and surfing in that area, and that’s a cheese cutter. It could decapitate somebody,” said Chris Lowe, the director of the Shark Lab at CSULB. “In addition, you got an angry shark at the end of the line, and that puts somebody at risk who’s swimming.” …
“I’ve never caught a great white out here, but to anyone who’s fishing for great whites, it’s not allowed, and it’s a hassle, too,” said Cheyne Sullivan from Redondo Beach.
It is illegal to fish for great white sharks, which are federally protected. But scenes like one on social media showing a fisherman trying to remove a hook from a great white’s mouth are drawing more anglers to the piers.
Cal State Long Beach’s Shark Lab director Chris Lowe, who was interviewed for the story, is an expert on great whites’ behavior (we interviewed him back in 2017. It’s a really good read).
