Mako gaff investigation continues... more revealing video surfaces

Last week we broke the story of a Mako Shark that was apparently free gaffed off the coast of Florida. The issue was not a moral debate about shark fishing and endangered animals, it was a legal issue of potential fishing code violations.

If you did have not yet read about the issue please read this article which outlines the potential State and federal laws broken by these fisherman.

The question we and many other groups raised was one of legality. Was the shark captured legally (ie with primary tackle consisting of rod and reel) or was the capture made with a running or conventional gaff. If the latter then this 'secondary tackle' capture was not legal and the fishermen should face the penalty.

The matter is now in the hands of the federal enforcement arm of NOAA and initial reports speculate that the fishermen may get off on a technicality. As we await final decisions we wanted you to stay informed and perhaps make a judgment for yourself. This video surfaced last week and shows more of the capture then previously shown. Initially it was playing on the Bluewater Movement website (the fishermens media agency) but it has since been removed from their Youtube channel, Facebook page and their website. We can only speculate as to why it was removed but we're guessing being investigated by the Feds may have been a motive.

Fortunately for us, before that happened one of our media friends managed to grab a copy...

Shark-Free Marina Advisers analyzed the video and came to these conclusions:

(We've) Watched this enough to render an opinion that, even after the FOX interview, it is still unclear, as to whether or not, the fish was first gaffed or baited on conventional gear - first, and that's the key. The footage appears absent of any sizeable rod and / or reel. There are some seconds towards the end of the Fox footage where it appears one of them is hand-leadering the fish to boat side ... appears that's what's happening. Begs the question, then, if they hand-lined the fish. Bunn makes mention of getting the fish to take a hook, and vague mention of cutting and re-tying the 'line'. It's very odd, the round-about accounts of what happened. We don't know if that's because of the fishermen getting a head's up about possible federal investigations?
- Sean and Brooks Paxton

This video not only casts a dim light on the legality of their catch it also highlights the role of the media in such an event. That will be a subject of many blog posts to come but let it suffice to say that we look forward to a day when reporters can recognize possible crimes and conduct due diligence before once again resorting to the bloody glory story of man vs the monster. For now it seems it's up to groups like Shark-Free Marinas (and many other concerned groups) to watch and guard against further wrongful depletion of the oceans most critical apex predators.

For the record SFMI has repeatedly written to the fishermen at question asking for a comment and their story, but we have yet to receive a response.