This series was funded by the Schooner Foundation as well as readers like you.
Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World, hosting the biggest recreational fishery in the U.S. It’s also a regional hub for Gulf and Atlantic sharks. After the Shark Fin Sale Elimination Act of 2022 banned the sale and import of shark fins entirely, the commercial shark fishing industry effectively died — yet threats to Florida’s coastal sharks continue to imperil their populations.
Now, as recreational fishing guides complain of too many sharks preying on their baited catch, and as new legislation changes the way Florida’s anglers interact with marine wildlife, sharks are under a more intense spotlight. In the quest for sustainable seas, what will it take for Florida to properly manage its shark population?
On the Menu
Sharks worldwide are imperiled by overfishing. Yet experts disagree on whether policies in Florida and the U.S. aimed at protecting sharks have in fact done the opposite. In Part I of this three-part series, The Marjorie investigates how a federal ban on shark fins shrunk a commercial fishery and satisfied shark advocates — but did little to curb shark deaths.
Tight Lines
As the recreational fishery chips away at shark populations outside the boundaries of scientists’ data books — and as a new constitutional amendment loosens restrictions on anglers across the state — Florida faces an uncertain future for sustainable shark management. In Part II of this three-part series, The Marjorie embeds with recreational and commercial fishermen to parse through the industries’ varied interactions with and attitudes toward sharks.
Sharing the Oceans
Sharks are more sought-after than ever. Yet, recreational anglers have become increasingly irate toward these species, complaining that too many of them are eating their hooked catch. Meanwhile, the diving industry says they are more valuable alive than dead. In Part III of this three-part series, The Marjorie journeys across the state of Florida exploring a crucial question: Where do sharks fit into Florida’s future?
Thank you credits:
The Marjorie would like to thank the following people for their support for this series:
April Hines, College of Journalism and Communication librarian at the University of Florida, for your help identifying archival media
Carl Safina and The Safina Center, for providing Marlowe Starling with the support of a paid fellowship to pursue reporting projects focused on the coexistence of human and wildlife coastal communities, including this one
Carlee Jackson, marine biologist and co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences, for your time and help in the early stages of The Marjorie’s reporting
Catherine MacDonald, interdisciplinary environmental scientist at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami, for your help with the earliest stages of our reporting
David Shiffman, interdisciplinary marine conservation biologist, for inviting The Marjorie onboard the Garvin to see shark research in real time, and for taking time to fact check with The Marjorie pre-publication
Denny Voyles, recreational fishing guide of Voyles Guide Service in Cedar Key, Florida, for generously inviting The Marjorie on a personal shark fishing trip and for your dedication to marine scientists across Florida
Dewey Hemilright, commercial shark fisherman in Wanchese, North Carolina, for your time, trust, and honesty about how recent legislation has affected the commercial fishing and shark industries
Freddy Pereira and Suzy Trutie, Port of Miami Communications, for giving The Marjorie a tour of the port and its shipping operations
Hannah Medd, conservation scientist and founder of American Shark Conservancy, for your candidness, your time, your advice, your help connecting with other sources, and your help with our fact-checking process
Jasmin Graham, marine biologist and co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences, for your time spent speaking with The Marjorie for multiple interviews; for keeping The Marjorie informed about current legislation; and for connecting The Marjorie with other sources
Jimbo Thomas, recreational fishing guide in Miami, Florida, for your help connecting with others in the fishing community
Jimmy Hull, commercial shark fisherman, for your time, support and, above all, trust
Karrah Glenn, hobbyist snorkeler/diver, for connecting The Marjorie with Ryan Walton; for joining The Marjorie on its excursion with Shark Tours FL; and for sharing extensive time and resources with The Marjorie about tensions between fishermen and the shark ecotourism industry
Michael Stone, contributing editor, for his thorough and pointed review of early drafts as well as his ongoing support for The Marjorie
Rusty Hudson, commercial fisherman, for sharing your time, trust, and stories about the shark fin trade
Ryan Walton and the Shark Tours FL team, for your time, honesty, and for inviting The Marjorie on a shark snorkel excursion in Jupiter. Your kindness is not taken for granted.