Latest news with #FishandWildlifeConservationCommission
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Animal cruelty: Florida fisherman charged for stabbing shark multiple times
Charter fisherman Zane P. Garrett, 26, was arrested on June 5 and charged with animal cruelty. PHOTO: MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MIAMI – A charter fisherman in Florida was charged with animal cruelty after a video showed him stabbing a shark multiple times. The fisherman, Zane P. Garrett, 26, of Stock Island in the Florida Keys, was arrested by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on June 5 and charged with the felony count. Law enforcement officials received tips on May 23 about a man 'repeatedly stabbing a shark on a fishing line before cutting the line and releasing the animal', the agency said in a statement. It was unclear if the shark survived. A video, which has since been widely circulated, shows a man stabbing the shark with a knife and includes a caption that reads 'bud broke my rod'. Conservation agents located Garrett's boat in Key West and identified him as the charter captain on the day of the attack. He later admitted to the stabbing. It was not immediately clear what potential penalties Garrett might face. 'The careless cruelty displayed in this video is unacceptable,' said Major Alberto Maza, the South B regional commander of the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 'I'm proud of the public for reporting this senseless act and our officers' work in identifying the subject and holding him accountable.' According to WPLG Local 10 in Miami, an arrest warrant stated that Garrett attacked the shark because it had stolen his fish. Garrett declined to comment when reached by phone on June 6. According to his website, Garrett operates Second Nature Charters in Key West, with prices starting at US$900 (S$1,160) for four hours of tarpon fishing. The charter boat is an 11m Torres sport fishing vessel that can accommodate up to six passengers. 'With Captain Zane at the helm, every fishing excursion becomes an unforgettable journey filled with camaraderie, laughter and, most importantly, epic catches that will be cherished for a lifetime,' according to the site. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said sharks have been known to take fish off a line or bite boat motors, 'an unfortunate side effect of healthy and sustainable shark populations'. A screen grab shows a charter fisherman stabbing a shark. PHOTO: WPLG LOCAL 10 The commission's advice: Move to another area away from shark activity. In May, another Florida charter fisherman was sentenced to 30 days for shooting and poisoning dolphins from his boat, including doing so once in front of two school-aged children. The captain was frustrated with the dolphins for stealing his catch, investigators said at the time. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
E&E News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Florida wildlife panel moves forward with bear hunt plans
Florida wildlife officials voted Wednesday to take a major step toward holding the state's first bear hunt in a decade. Details: The state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 4-1 to consider rules in August that would allow 187 bears, or less than 5 percent of the estimated statewide population, to be killed in four zones. Commission members during their discussion didn't advocate for a hunt but asked whether they could return in August to make changes. They also raised concerns about the proposal allowing hunting over wildlife feeders. Advertisement 'It is a very conservative harvest we are looking at,' Morgan Richardson, the agency's director of hunting and game management, responded to the panel during the meeting in Ocala.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
DeSantis ends surprise boat inspections in Florida
Boaters will no longer be stopped by state wildlife officers for random boat-safety inspections under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The measure (SB 1388), which will take effect July 1, will require Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers to have probable cause to halt boaters. "When you have somebody who has been stopped three times in one day without there ever being a basis to stop them, then you know something's wrong," DeSantis said during an appearance at Watson Landings Marina in Panama City. DeSantis said such inspections have created friction between boaters and law-enforcement officers. He pushed for lawmakers to approve the change this year, in part because of an incident last year involving a boater in Jupiter that drew heavy attention online. "They board his vessel, they have him blow the breathalyzer, 0.0. He wasn't drinking, and there was no basis to do it," DeSantis said Monday. "There was no activity that was suspicious. There was no safety violations. There was no reckless boating. And it was this whole thing, this guy ends up getting arrested. I'm just thinking to myself, 'That is not what we want.'" Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young said the agency will focus "on violations that are occurring, that we're seeing, reckless operation, careless operation." The House voted 104-7 to pass the bill, while the Senate approved it in a 35-2 vote.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Strange-looking orange lizards are popping up across Florida. Here's how they could upend its ecosystems
An invasive lizard species that looks as if its head was dunked in bright orange mac-and-cheese powder is taking over Florida. Peter's rock agama are darting around neighborhoods this spring, and experts say they're likely to be increasingly more common in coming months. That's concerning for native populations, including the Reef Gecko. Peter's rock agama may pose a threat to small native insects and reptiles by preying upon native species and out-competing them for resources. 'Peters's rock agama are larger than most geckos in Florida (note we only have one native species of gecko),' Dr. Steve Johnson told WKMG. 'The agama have spiny scales and a somewhat rough appearance, whereas our geckos have small, flat scales and look much smoother. Also, Peters's rock agama are active during the day, but the geckos are active mainly at night,' he noted. The males are up to a foot long, while the females are less than half that size. Breeding males have an orange or red head, a black or indigo body, and a multicolored tail. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, Peter's rock agama were first documented in the Sunshine State in 1976, and have been found in more than half of Florida's 67 counties, according to The Palm Beach Post. They're particularly hard to catch, according to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The commission encourages residents to report sightings. 'Eradication of established populations in Florida is likely not feasible,' the agency notes. In addition to eating insects — such as the grasshoppers and crickets — they also eat their own young. They are allowed to be humanely killed on private property with landowner permission, and year-round without a permit or hunting license on 32 Commission-managed lands in southern Florida. Although they are confined largely to residential areas, they don't pose a threat to pets or people, although their bite could be painful, according to the University of Florida. Very little research has been conducted, but it seems unlikely that they have made significant negative impacts on Florida's environment. 'Because they feed on insects and other small invertebrates, they do have the potential to negatively impact imperiled butterflies, especially in south Florida and the Keys. However, this has not been studied,' the university said.
The Independent
05-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Strange-looking orange lizards are popping up across Florida. Here's how they could upend its ecosystems
An invasive lizard species that looks as if its head was dunked in bright orange mac-and-cheese powder is taking over Florida. Peter's rock agama are darting around neighborhoods this spring, and experts say they're likely to be increasingly more common in coming months. That's concerning for native populations, including the Reef Gecko. Peter's rock agama may pose a threat to small native insects and reptiles by preying upon native species and out-competing them for resources. 'Peters's rock agama are larger than most geckos in Florida (note we only have one native species of gecko),' Dr. Steve Johnson told WKMG. 'The agama have spiny scales and a somewhat rough appearance, whereas our geckos have small, flat scales and look much smoother. Also, Peters's rock agama are active during the day, but the geckos are active mainly at night,' he noted. The males are up to a foot long, while the females are less than half that size. Breeding males have an orange or red head, a black or indigo body, and a multicolored tail. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, Peter's rock agama were first documented in the Sunshine State in 1976, and have been found in more than half of Florida's 67 counties, according to The Palm Beach Post. They're particularly hard to catch, according to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The commission encourages residents to report sightings. 'Eradication of established populations in Florida is likely not feasible,' the agency notes. In addition to eating insects — such as the grasshoppers and crickets — they also eat their own young. They are allowed to be humanely killed on private property with landowner permission, and year-round without a permit or hunting license on 32 Commission-managed lands in southern Florida. Although they are confined largely to residential areas, they don't pose a threat to pets or people, although their bite could be painful, according to the University of Florida. Very little research has been conducted, but it seems unlikely that they have made significant negative impacts on Florida's environment. 'Because they feed on insects and other small invertebrates, they do have the potential to negatively impact imperiled butterflies, especially in south Florida and the Keys. However, this has not been studied,' the university said.
