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Wildlife Group Calls For Harsher Penalties After Shark Dragging Video

DXR via wikimedia commons
Credit DXR via wikimedia commons

The Florida Wildlife Federation is pushing for stiffer poaching penalties after a shark dragging video went viral.

The governor, nearby lawmakers and more than a quarter million Floridians have condemned the actions of three men who recorded themselves dragging a shark behind their boat.  Now the Florida Wildlife Federation wants legislative action to increase penalties.  The environmental organization says poachers are rarely caught and lightly punished—usually nothing more than a small fine and a second degree misdemeanor.  They’re urging members to call the governor, legislative leaders and the wildlife commission director ahead of lawmakers returning to the capitol for committee hearings. 

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Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.