Illegal Gill Net Removed From Sanibel Waters

🚨 500 Feet of Illegal Netting Removed From Sanibel Waters 🌊

A 500 foot illegal gill net was recently discovered off Sanibel Island, trapping marine wildlife and putting countless other animals at risk.

Wildlife rescuers and conservation partners worked together to remove the net and free the animals caught inside. Among those found were a live manatee, rays, numerous fish, and a bonnethead shark that unfortunately did not survive.

Gill and entangling nets have been prohibited in Florida waters since 1995 because of their ability to indiscriminately entangle and injure or kill marine life, including fish, sea turtles, and marine mammals.

Incidents like this are an important reminder of the dangers that abandoned, lost, or illegally used fishing gear can pose to our Ocean. Prevention, responsible fishing practices, and continued conservation efforts are essential to protecting the wildlife that depends on these waters. 💙🐢🐬

Read more about the rescue through WESH 2 News. https://www.wesh.com/article/sanibel-wildlife-rescue-500-feet-illegal-netting/73773985