Video footage leads to arrest
A deep-sea angler from Florida is at the centre of a scandal after a video surfaced on social media showing him repeatedly attacking a shark with a knife. Zane P. Garrett, 26, from Stock Island in the Florida Keys, was arrested on Thursday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and charged with animal cruelty—a misdemeanour classified as a criminal offence.
According to official statements from 23 May, Garrett is alleged to have repeatedly stabbed a shark that was hooked on his line before releasing it. It is unclear whether the animal survived. The widely shared video shows the brutal scene with the caption: “Mate broke my rod.” Garrett later admitted to attacking the shark.
Public outrage over animal cruelty on the high seas
Investigators were able to locate Garrett’s charter boat in Key West and identify him as the captain on the day in question. His company, Second Nature Charters, offers fishing trips starting at $1 for four hours. On its website, every tour is advertised as an unforgettable adventure with “epic catches.”
Major Alberto Maza of the FWC described the behaviour as “reckless cruelty” and praised the public for the tips that led to the arrest. According to news channel WPLG Local 10, Garrett justified the attack by claiming the shark had snatched his catch.
The FWC reminded the public that sharks in Florida often steal fish from fishing lines or even bite boat motors—a sign of stable shark populations. The experts’ advice: change fishing areas if shark activity is high.
A similar case made headlines in May: another charter captain was sentenced to 30 days in prison for shooting and poisoning dolphins—even in front of two children.
