- Martin County commissioners tabled a decision on changes to local shark fishing rules after a state directive.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told the county its ordinance must align with state law, which preempts local saltwater fishing regulations.
- Residents, including the mother of a shark attack survivor, voiced concerns about beach safety at Bathtub Beach and along Martin County shorelines.
Martin County is weighing changes to its shark fishing ordinance after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directed the county to bring its local rules in line with state law. The directive has drawn strong opposition from residents who worry about public safety on local beaches.
State Law Strips County Control Over Saltwater Fishing
Florida law gives the state authority over saltwater fishing regulations, including shark fishing. That means counties cannot create rules that go further than what state law allows.
Assistant County Attorney Melissa Petrick explained to commissioners that a state statute has effectively removed the county’s ability to regulate saltwater fishing, shark fishing included. She described preemption as the state taking control of an area local government previously oversaw.
Under state law, shark fishing requires a saltwater fishing license and a special permit. State rules also allow shark fishing within 1,000 feet of a guarded beach at all hours. Martin County’s current ordinance places stricter limits on that activity than state law does.
Shark Attack Survivor’s Mother Speaks Out at Martin County Beaches
Among the most vocal opponents of any rollback in local protections is Jessica Veatch. Her daughter Violet was attacked by a bull shark at Bathtub Beach nine years ago, when Violet was three years old.
Veatch described the moment of the attack to commissioners, recalling the sound of her daughter’s scream and the injury she saw when she pulled her from the water. She said she believes nearby spearfishing activity may have contributed to what happened, and she urged commissioners not to weaken existing local protections. She argued that allowing more shark activity near the shoreline puts swimmers at unnecessary risk.
Indian River Keeper Jim Moir also raised concerns at the Tuesday commission meeting. He said attracting more sharks to Martin County beaches is harmful to public safety, local fishing, and the sharks themselves.
What This Means for Martin County Residents Going Forward
County attorneys said the existing ordinance does not need to be scrapped entirely. Petrick told commissioners the county could rework the ordinance to reference the relevant state law rather than removing all local language on the subject.
Martin County commissioners voted to table the discussion. They directed staff to review community concerns and draft new ordinance language for a future vote. No timeline for the next review has been announced.
