A man from Florida was filmed using a hammer to assault a shark and was subsequently arrested because of disregarding a court summons related to the incident.
Fox 35 reported that the man, identified as 33-year-old Brian Waddill, caught the lemon shark at Bicentennial Beach Park in Indian Harbor Beach on December 20th while he was fishing.
Man Arrested After Beating a Shark With a Hammer in Florida; Experts Confirmed It Was a Protected Species
Florida Man Assaults Shark
Last December, Waddill was caught on security cameras beating a lemon shark he had just caught during a fishing trip at Indian Harbour Beach's Bicentennial Beach Park. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers lemon sharks a vulnerable species, according to Forbes.
They frequently breed in specific nursery sites and are found in subtropical waters, including Florida. Witnesses to the attack reported that Waddill hit the shark several times with a hammer and then dragged it on the beach before returning it to the sea. Based on the video, they identified Waddill as the attacker, and he now faces two misdemeanor charges related to the incident.
Lemon sharks are known to breed in specific nursery sites, and they return to these areas frequently. They are often found in shallow waters in subtropical regions, including areas of Florida.
Waddill is facing charges related to failure to return a prohibited species unharmed and a violation against the harvest, landing, or sale of sharks. Lemon sharks are considered protected species, and their specific behavior and habitat characteristics make them particularly sensitive to harm caused by human activities such as fishing.
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Florida Man Denies Hitting a Lemon Shark
Lemon sharks are one of the 28 species protected by Florida state law, as reported by Fishing and Wildlife Conservation. Witnesses testified that Waddill hit a lemon shark multiple times before realizing he was being watched.
He appeared to attempt to return the shark to the water after it was presumed dead. However, the shark's body was carried out to sea by the waves, the New York Post reports. While legal in Florida, specific regulations govern shark fishing, including particular species and sizes.
Witnesses have said that Waddill beat the shark, turned it on its side, and used a hammer's claw to remove the gills. In contrast, Waddill told the responding officer that he had applied "blunt force trauma to the shark's head."
However, a Florida fisheries biologist confirmed that the shark in the video was a lemon shark. This species comes under FWC's "of special concern" list.
Intentionally hurting or causing the death of any wildlife or fish species can result in a $500 fine and a maximum of 60 days in jail. Although released from jail, an anonymous source believes Waddill will be used as an example in his case.
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