By Margie Plunkett
Anyone fishing for shark, be on notice: Delray Beach commissioners in July voted to prohibit shark fishing 300 feet from the municipal beach.
As part of the ordinance passed July 21, no chumming or baiting — using cut up bait to attract sharks — or the use of lures or rigs for shark fishing is allowed. And any accidental catches are required to be thrown back, the ordinance said.
The commissioners were responding to recent resident concern that shark fishing on the municipal beach may create hazardous conditions for swimmers, according to a memo to commissioners from Terrill C. Pyburn, assistant city attorney.
The ordinance passed after a long line of speakers from the public passionately voiced various perspectives on conservation, swimmer safety and the land fisherman’s freedom to pursue the sport. In the end, the preservation of Delray Beach’s “jewel” — the beach — won unanimously.
“Our Delray beach is our pride and joy,” said Vice Mayor Gary Eliopoulous, who favored the ordinance on the basis of public safety. “I think what the ordinance was written for was that we don’t want to be attracting sharks to our shore. With the exception of one, most of the Delray residents who spoke tonight were in favor of this ordinance.”
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