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Outrage expressed over video showing boaters dragging shark

Posted at 2:48 PM, Jul 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-25 23:32:14-04

WARNING: Some may find the video disturbing.

 

Thousands of people have seen a video on Facebook of what appears to be several boaters dragging a shark at high speeds.

The video is nine seconds long, plenty of time to spark outrage among boaters and fishermen here in South Florida.

"I hope they're made an example of," said Justin Hickox of North Palm Beach.

"There is no difference when you hold a sharks gills above water to holding a humans head below water," said shark diver Ryan Walton.

He says this is one of worst actions he's seen by a boater in some time.

"Sharks have had this negative image spread on them for far too long and that's why we're seeing actions like this, but at this point, we just need to educate everybody we can and hopefully things like this will stop," said Walton.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is aware of the video and officials say they are currently investigating the incident.

A spokesperson says it is too early to speculate if any violation took place.