Florida wildlife officials and prosecutors have charged three men connected to a video of a shark being dragged behind a speeding boat.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission news release says 21-year-old Michael Wenzel and 23-year-old Spencer Heintz of Palmetto, along with 28-year-old Robert Lee Benac of Bradenton, each face two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
Wenzel and Benac also face a misdemeanor count of illegal method of taking a shark.
FWC Chairman Bo Rivard said in a statement that he hopes the charges send a clear message that this kind of behavior won’t be tolerated.
State Attorney Andrew H Warren said: ‘The State Attorney’s Office is committed to holding these men accountable for having engaged in such senseless and unjustifiable animal cruelty.
‘We thank the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for their work in investigating these crimes, and we stand with them, along with Florida’s fishing and hunting communities, and all those who cherish our precious natural resources, in condemning the torture of our marine wildlife.’
Prosecutors in Hillsborough County are handling the case.
Jail records didn’t list attorneys for the men.
The video of the shark being dragged went viral in late July after a Miami sport fisherman criticized it on social media.
It shows the shark being brutally dragged behind a speedboat as men are heard laughing at the helpless creature.
All three face two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty. Wenzel and Benac also face a misdemeanor count of illegal method of taking a shark. Pictured are two grabs from the viral video
Benac (left) and Wenzel (right) have a history of hunting animals. In Florida, shark fishing is legal, but regulated
Though the commission declined to release the names of the men involved, several angry people posted their names on Facebook.
Fishing captain Mark Quartiano, who received the video from someone he believes was on the boat, shared the clip on Instagram, writing: ‘FOR ONCE I MAY HAVE TO AGREE WITH @PETA.’
The brief, 11-second video, shows the shark hitting the surface of the water and flipping around before the cameraman turns the lens to show three others on the boat, laughing and pointing at the animal.
One man can be heard saying: ‘Look, it’s already almost dead.’
Quartiano, who said he received the video from Instagram users @bearjew428 and @MICHAELWENZEL, wrote: ‘CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WTF IS GOING ON HERE ???? JUST GOT THIS ON MY FEED!
‘FOR ONCE I MAY HAVE TO AGREE WITH @PETA. #WHODOESTHISS*** #sowrong #notcool.’
In Florida, shark fishing is legal, but regulated. Some species cannot be harvested at all; others must have reached a certain length before harvesting is allowed.