ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. — Leaders in Isle of Palms are discussing the possibility of a ban on shark fishing in local waters due to growing safety concerns from residents. City officials are concerned that shark fishing may be drawing dangerous animals too close to swimming areas, creating risks for beachgoers.
The Proposed Ordinance
At a City Council workshop on July 8th, the Isle of Palms Public Safety Committee presented an ordinance aimed at restricting shark fishing. The proposed ordinance includes the following key points:
Prohibition of shark fishing from a pier or beach between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
A ban on chumming within 600 feet of a pier, beach, or shore, which would prevent attracting sharks near swimming areas.
Balancing Safety and Recreation
Councilmember Rusty Streetman, who is part of the public safety committee, explained that the committee initially considered more limited restrictions for hobbyists. “If you’re a hobbyist or you do it at certain times of the year or during certain hours, that may be okay,” Streetman said. “But when we had the council discussion, there was the other side of the story too, that said maybe we should just consider banning shark fishing totally.”
Residents’ Safety Concerns
Local residents have voiced strong concerns about shark fishing, especially after reports of people using large amounts of bait to attract sharks. Blair Hahn, a member of the city council, described a situation where people were using large hunks of beef and heavy fishing equipment to drag sharks into swimming areas. “I’ve seen this past summer groups coming out and they’re taking 15-pound-plus hunks of beef. They’re running huge J-hooks through the beef with steel litters and paddling them 200 yards off shore in a kayak, dropping them, and waiting for an animal big enough to take that bait,” Hahn explained. “They’re then going to hook and drag it back through the surf where people are swimming.”
The concern is that these activities bring sharks into close proximity to swimmers, potentially leading to dangerous encounters.
Impact on Recreational Fishing
The proposed ordinance would not affect recreational shore fishing, which includes people who may accidentally catch sharks while fishing for other types of fish. Police Chief Kevin Cornett reassured residents that this ordinance would not criminalize recreational fishermen. “The big thing here is it’s a discussion about making sure that people still have the ability to fish,” Cornett said. “We’re not trying to prohibit anybody from doing something like that. I fish, many of our council members fish, we see a benefit to that but it’s trying to make sure we weigh everybody’s rights and everybody’s safety.”
People who accidentally catch a shark while fishing would be asked to safely release it back into the water without facing penalties.
Next Steps
The shark fishing ordinance has been sent back to the public safety committee for further review and discussion. The committee will continue to gather input from residents and consider the best way to balance safety with the enjoyment of recreational fishing activities.
