Dive boat operators face charges of illegally feeding sharks in state waters

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iluvtheocean

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Investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have filed charges against four men linked to the illegal feeding of sharks and fish within state waters.
The investigation started after the FWC received several complaints that shark feeding was taking place off the coast of Palm Beach County during dive charter trips. One complainant told dispatchers she was on a dive trip where sharks were being fed. The person said the sharks had become so aggressive she had to get out of the water.
“This is a public safety issue,” said FWC Maj. Camille Soverel. “The FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement wants to ensure these beautiful coastal waters remain safe for divers.”
FWC investigators and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), working jointly, conducted two separate investigations involving two northern Palm Beach County dive charter operators. On Feb. 8, deputies from the PBSO dive team took part in a dive trip on board Emerald Charters of Jupiter. During the dive, video was taken of Randall Jordan feeding sharks by hand while within state waters. He also used a milk crate filled with fish chunks to lure sharks to his location. Thomas Smith was operating the vessel during the dive.
On Feb. 22, the deputies took another dive trip on board the vessel Miss Jackie, which is owned by Luis Roman of Orlando and operated by Toni Crumrine. The boat was used by the Lake Park-based company Calypso Dive Charters. During this trip, deputies took video of Roman feeding a goliath grouper and a lemon shark. Video also shows Roman trying to lure sharks to his location by shaking a milk crate filled with barracuda chunks. Both feeding incidents happened in state waters.
FWC investigators and PBSO divers used several GPS devices and other methods to confirm these activities were occurring in state waters, which, in the Atlantic, is within (or up to) 3 nautical miles from the nearest point of Florida coastline. Fish feeding in Florida waters has been illegal since 2002.
The FWC presented results from the joint investigations to the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, which charged Jordan, Smith, Roman and Crumrine with operating a vessel for hire within state waters to allow passengers to observe fish feeding. Jordan and Roman were also charged with fish feeding. These are second-degree misdemeanors, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
 
Investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have filed charges against four men linked to the illegal feeding of sharks and fish within state waters.
The investigation started after the FWC received several complaints that shark feeding was taking place off the coast of Palm Beach County during dive charter trips. One complainant told dispatchers she was on a dive trip where sharks were being fed. The person said the sharks had become so aggressive she had to get out of the water.
“This is a public safety issue,” said FWC Maj. Camille Soverel. “The FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement wants to ensure these beautiful coastal waters remain safe for divers.”
FWC investigators and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), working jointly, conducted two separate investigations involving two northern Palm Beach County dive charter operators. On Feb. 8, deputies from the PBSO dive team took part in a dive trip on board Emerald Charters of Jupiter. During the dive, video was taken of Randall Jordan feeding sharks by hand while within state waters. He also used a milk crate filled with fish chunks to lure sharks to his location. Thomas Smith was operating the vessel during the dive.
On Feb. 22, the deputies took another dive trip on board the vessel Miss Jackie, which is owned by Luis Roman of Orlando and operated by Toni Crumrine. The boat was used by the Lake Park-based company Calypso Dive Charters. During this trip, deputies took video of Roman feeding a goliath grouper and a lemon shark. Video also shows Roman trying to lure sharks to his location by shaking a milk crate filled with barracuda chunks. Both feeding incidents happened in state waters.
FWC investigators and PBSO divers used several GPS devices and other methods to confirm these activities were occurring in state waters, which, in the Atlantic, is within (or up to) 3 nautical miles from the nearest point of Florida coastline. Fish feeding in Florida waters has been illegal since 2002.
The FWC presented results from the joint investigations to the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, which charged Jordan, Smith, Roman and Crumrine with operating a vessel for hire within state waters to allow passengers to observe fish feeding. Jordan and Roman were also charged with fish feeding. These are second-degree misdemeanors, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.

Wow....Interesting development. I had just heard a whole lot of buzz going on in the local dive industry, about how new divers on the Breakers Reef, were now being buzzed by sharks that were assumed to have been fed by Calypso....whose divers had been seen spearing jacks to feed to sharks on the Breakers Reef--clearly about the most irresponsible place a charter like Calypso could choose to do a shark feed....not to mention to even allow it's divers to be shooting a bunch of jacks....this is a 40 to 55 foot beautiful dive, sort of a baby dive though, ideal for novices or anyone wanting a relaxing dive....it is no place for spearfishing or shark feeds, and you don't need a law to know this......
I suppose it would have been worse if Calypso had done the shark feed at the BHB Marine Park....maybe :)

Jordan has been warned by many of us, spearfisherman feeding sharks , will alter shark behavior for the worse. These are opportunistic feeders, they are much smarter than had been previously thought, and Randy's shark feeding/spearfishing dives have changed shark behavior in Jupiter waters, according to a very large number of regular divers to the Jupiter area. As far as I had heard though, Randy had been doing this in the deeper water by the Hole in the Wall, more than 3 miles out--so it was legal, even if not intelligent. Randy was making a fortune on these dives, bringing every cowboy diver that wanted an insane youtube video, to a crazy shark encounter.....I guess it was only a matter of time before GREED pushed a boat like Calypso into trying this stupidity on the Breakers Reef.... Wow!!!!
 
I got the e-mail from FWC as well. They sure wanted everyone to know that these guys got caught.
 
heard this was happening..........thanks for the info.
 
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[FONT=&quot](Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]March 20, 2014[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Suggested Tweet: FWC investigators catch charter dive operators illegally feeding #sharks & other #fish in #Florida waters: [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Dive boat operators face charges of illegally feeding sharks in state waters[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have filed charges against four men linked to the illegal feeding of sharks and fish within state waters.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The investigation started after the FWC received several complaints that shark feeding was taking place off the coast of Palm Beach County during dive charter trips. One complainant told dispatchers she was on a dive trip where sharks were being fed. The person said the sharks had become so aggressive she had to get out of the water.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“This is a public safety issue,” said FWC Maj. Camille Soverel. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]“The FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement wants to ensure these beautiful coastal waters remain safe for divers.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]FWC investigators and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), working jointly, conducted two separate investigations involving two northern Palm Beach County dive charter operators. On Feb. 8, deputies from the PBSO dive team took part in a dive trip on board Emerald Charters of Jupiter. During the dive, video was taken of Randall Jordan feeding sharks by hand while within state waters. He also used a milk crate filled with fish chunks to lure sharks to his location. Thomas Smith was operating the vessel during the dive.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On Feb. 22, the deputies took another dive trip on board the vessel Miss Jackie, which is owned by Luis Roman of Orlando and operated by Toni Crumrine. The boat was used by the Lake Park-based company Calypso Dive Charters. During this trip, deputies took video of Roman feeding a goliath grouper and a lemon shark. Video also shows Roman trying to lure sharks to his location by shaking a milk crate filled with barracuda chunks. Both feeding incidents happened in state waters.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]FWC investigators and PBSO divers used several GPS devices and other methods to confirm these activities were occurring in state waters, which, in the Atlantic, is within (or up to) 3 nautical miles from the nearest point of Florida coastline. Fish feeding in Florida waters has been illegal since 2002.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The FWC presented results from the joint investigations to the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, which charged Jordan, Smith, Roman and Crumrine with operating a vessel for hire within state waters to allow passengers to observe fish feeding. Jordan and Roman were also charged with fish feeding. These are second-degree misdemeanors, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]-30-[/FONT]​
[FONT=&quot]KJ/SRO
WBD/SCB[/FONT]
 
saw this on another thread.....never did like the shark feeding trend.
 
I guess I'm just surprised by the laziness. How long would it take to go 3 miles offshore?
 
I guess I'm just surprised by the laziness. How long would it take to go 3 miles offshore?
While that's possible here in the Keys, it's pretty damn deep three miles off shore around those parts.
 
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https://xf2.scubaboard.com/community/forums/cave-diving.45/

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