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Man Who Landed Shark May Face Charges
AP
DOVER, Del. (June 8) - A fisherman who landed what state wildlife officials believe is a juvenile great white shark could face federal charges.
Authorities don't believe Michael Davidson and his companions on board the 33-foot "Little One" landed a great white deliberately. They may have misidentified 5 1/2-foot shark as a mako, said Lt. Aaron Hurd of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Great whites, rarely seen in Delaware waters, are illegal to possess under federal law.
Fish and Wildlife enforcement agents found the shark while on routine patrol Saturday morning. They boarded the private fishing boat as it arrived at the North Shore Marina at Indian River Inlet.
State officials said the shark that weighed 179 pounds was caught about eight miles offshore. The shark has been sent to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for DNA testing.
If the animal is confirmed as a white shark, Davidson could be prosecuted under federal law for possession of a protected species. Fish and Wildlife agents also said that Davidson was not carrying a valid permit to fish for species such as sharks and tuna in federal waters.
Efforts to contact Davidson by telephone at his Frankford home Thursday afternoon were not successful.
If the NRP can't ID the fish on the spot and need to send the shark DNA to NOAA for testing to confirm if the fish is a mako or a great white, how can the NRP expect the recreational fisherman to know the difference while 8 miles offshore?
If the NRP can't ID the fish on the spot and need to send the shark DNA to NOAA for testing to confirm if the fish is a mako or a great white, how can the NRP expect the recreational fisherman to know the difference while 8 miles offshore?
I believe they ID the shark as a Great White but sent it out for confirmation before filing charges. Either way, it's the fisherman's responsibility to confirm what he has on board and if it's a legal catch or not.
Considering he didn't have a permit for shark in the first place, they should charge him anyway.
The HMS permit is $28 and takes 5 seconds to buy online, and print. If you are targeting sharks, tuna or any other highly migratory species without one - they should prosecute. These guys had to be specifically targeting shark - otherwise they wouldnt have had the gear to land a 180 lb, 5.5ft GW 8 miles out of DE.
even if you just bottom fish it is a good idea to get the permit. I was told by our DNR that even if you catch and release a shark you need the permit. seems like it would be hard for those charges to stick but better to avoid the hassle and get the permit
I agree that if it take a DNA test to tell whether it is a GW or not, they should not be prosecuted for harvesting a protected species. Others will disagree because "everything is black and white," but seriously why should the DNR need a DNA test to identify the species. I am sure they are well trained and educated, but DNA testing is rediculous. Not having an HMS permit deserves a fine, but I would be willing to bet there would be a serious fine for the GW.
They do it because that ends the argument about what the fish is. I feel sure the FWS guys are confident they are correct and are not doing it because they don't know. They also don't have to keep a 200# shark on ice as evidence just a tissue sample.
Shizzle! I was there the day they weighed it in. Doin' a little bay fishing (3 keeper flounder over 19") and rolled up to the marina to use the facilities. Did my thing and saw the shark on the scale and thought to myself "hmm a small mako". As I was boarding my boat I remember thinking the Fish and wildlife guy looked a little consternated, very serious looking. Later my friend tells me that was a great white and the dude's are in trouble. I thought to myself, hey, I thought that was a mako myself.
Either way, it's the fisherman's responsibility to confirm what he has on board and if it's a legal catch or not.
If you are ever in doubt, take a pic and release. It does suck to find out later you could have kept it but sure beats what these guys are going through
I read that the officer identified it as a GW immediately based on its colorations compared to a mako. He then pulled out an identification guide and confirmed it was a GW. As stated above, the DNA is just the smokin' gun to make the conviction air-tight. The DNR officers do a lot of good work here. The same officer just slammed some striper poachers and rescued some lame brain kayakers in rough water offshore. He earns his pay. If you don't know let her go.
The idiot didn't have a permit to begin with The teeth are all even not sticking all over the place and the weight is double what a Mako that length would weigh The dna is the slam the door evidence on these guys
All this info is available prior to fishing for any species and a 5 1/2' mako should be released as they don't normally breed till about 300#'s which is closer to 8' again info that is available on numerous websites
Am I the only one that sees a problem with having a permit for "targeting" a certain fish?How can you receive a fine for simply fishing for a certain fish?Possesing I can see, but Just fishing??? How can they tell if I am bait fishing for Sailfish{hms required} or kings,etc.This is just another ceazy federal money collecting tax!!!@!
the shark police 
