Fisherman Cited Under Delaware's New Fishing Regulations

Sand Tiger sharks now protected by new Delaware fishing rules. 

On June 11, 2011 Delaware's new shark fishing regulations went into effect.  The reason behind these new laws was to hopefully discourage the targeting of protected species:

It shall be unlawful for any hook and line fisherman to remove from the water sandbar shark, or any other species of shark when prohibited from harvest under §3541.

Delmarvanow.com quoted fisheries administrator for Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Fish and Wildlife Division, Craig Shirey, as saying, “if you have to get out there in the water with the shark to let it go, then maybe it will discourage people from fishing for them.” DNREC fisheries scientist, Scott Newin, said that the current regulations need to be defined more clearly and also noted that the public needed to be better educated about how to properly handle hooked sharks to minimize injuries to the animals.  Violations of the new shark fishing regulations would carry fines of $25-$100. For more information check out Delaware’s 3541 Atlantic Sharks regulations.

The first enforcement of this new law!!

Delaware Online is reporting that an angler who caught and released a sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) was cited and fined for “failing to release the fish in the water as quickly as possible.” The new rules require that protected species not be removed from the water.

Kevin Schultze ended up paying $269 in fines and court fees after landing the shark on the beach at Cape Henlopen, according to the report.  Schultze took photos of the shark on the beach and then released.  Despite the fact that the shark was released, under the new rules Schultze was fined for bringing the shark up on the shore instead of releasing it in the water.  He said he was unaware of the new rules but will "live and learn" from the fine.