SARASOTA, Fla. — As state investigators seek more evidence from the public about a growing number of videos that showcase abuse of sharks, legislation may be filed that seeks to better define state wildlife laws.
"It is unfortunate that it takes events like this to bring to light other cruel animal abuses that occur on our waters," state Rep. Alex Miller, R-Sarasota, posted on Facebook last week in reaction to a video that showed a shark being dragged behind a boat at a high speed through Tampa-area waters.
[ UPDATE: Man in shark-dragging video asks for more police patrols ]
Miller's Facebook post came before the Manatee County State Attorney's Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Division of Law Enforcement announced Friday they hope for a "swift and lawful resolution" to the incident that sparked the online outrage.
The video has spurred social-media outrage and the circulation online of other videos and photos believed to be related to the people in the shark-dragging episode.
"If current law does not find this to be a prosecutable crime, I will present a bill this session that brings more clarity," Miller said in the post.
Also, Gov. Rick Scott called on state wildlife officials to review fishing regulations after watching what he called a "disturbing video" showing a "hateful act."