While catching sharks off Isle of Palms is routine for many local fishermen, it will soon be illegal to purposely fish for them along the island’s beaches in certain instances due to the dangers they pose to swimmers and large groups of beachgoers.
IOP City Council members have been trying for several months to determine the best all-around solution to maintaining public beach and water safety while also weighing the idea of whether to allow shark fishing at all.
The matter was discussed at the June 3 Public Safety Committee meeting, again on July 1, then brought to the city council’s July 8 workshop for more discussion before being sent back to the Public Safety Committee for additional work, as no majority consensus for an ordinance was reached.
Part of the draft for the prospective ordinance reads:
- It shall be unlawful for any person involved in attempting to catch or take any shark or other marine animals that may endanger the public from any fishing pier or any beach or shore.
- Any person(s) who baits, fish for or otherwise attract sharks or other marine animals that may endanger the public within 1 mile of the beach or any coastal waters are in violation of this chapter.
At the June 3 Public Safety Committee meeting, Councilman John Bogosian recommended no aerial vehicle drones for commercial fishing and no commercial fishing along the beach…