Catch puts Destin on world stage but opens old wounds

When news of the 844-pound shark broke, the eyes of the world turned briefly to Destin.

All day Monday, stories accompanied by Destin Log photos appeared on CNN and FOXnews. The photos also found their way into newspapers throughout America. Requests for the images came from as far away as England.

"It was kind of surprising," said Rodeo Executive Director Helen Donaldson, adding that it must have been a "really slow news day in the world."

"But this is exciting for Destin because people are just intrigued by sharks and shark fishing. It proves once again that we are "The Luckiest Fishing Village.' "

But with the new attention came old tensions as shark fi shing critics were reminded of Destin's shark tournament, which was discontinued amid criticism after being resurrected last year.

Gail Powell, a self-described environmentalist who is "on a mission to save sharks," played a key role in forming grass-roots opposition to the shark tournament. The news of the mako catch has Powell taking up arms again this time in an effort to kill the Rodeo's longtime shark division.

"We just gotta put a stop to this. I think it's lack of education. I don't know what it is," she said. "People just can't keep killing these magnifi cent species out there."

She has contacted the Humane Society, which last year flew planes over Destin with messages protesting the shark tournament. She also intends to target the sponsors of the division in this case, Regions Bank, which has pledged to award the angler who hauls in the biggest shark a $2,000 savings bond.

"We are going to rev it back up again," Powell said. "We can't keep doing this to the ocean."

Powell said the mako population is in danger. A February report by the World Conservation Union red-listed the mako as a "vulnerable" species due to overfishing by commercial anglers.

"Who eats these things?" she asked. "These guys are just doing it for the glory."

Donaldson disagreed.

"The reason those people brought in that fish is that it was the fish of a lifetime." Donaldson said. "These people aren't just out there killing sharks willy-nilly."

She said the mako shark is very edible and that meat was split among the anglers and others on the docks.

"Every part of that fi sh is gonna be used," she said.

Furthermore, Donaldson said, the Rodeo has been "responsible and conservation-minded." She said the initial benchmark for a shark to be brought in was 339.6 pounds. Now, with the massive mako, it is almost double that size.

Controversy aside, many Destin leaders are just basking in the glow of the nation's attention.

"I think the national spotlight is a good thing," said Shane Moody, president/CEO of the Destin Chamber of Commerce. "These people who threaten protests, were they in Pensacola when they had their shark tournament? Why are they singling out Destin?"

Throughout the day Monday, Donaldson fi elded cheers and jeers by phone and e-mail from across the nation. She said she even got an e-mail death threat, which she forwarded to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Offi ce.

"It was a big fi sh and some people don't like it, but I think it was awesome for Destin."