Divers find dead shark in floating killer net

A day of diving turned up a troubling find. Elaine Blum and a group of divers were on a charter boat, on their way back into Two Georges Marina in downtown Boynton Beach.

In about 25 feet of water off Ocean Ridge, Blum and the other divers found some debris in the water. It turned out to be a large fishing net. It had homemade floats and was caught for the moment on a discarded patio table on the ocean floor.

But tangled up in the netting was a dead reef shark. The net had also ensnared fish.

"I was not happy to see the shark," lamented Blum. "The net was just drifting. It basically was a 'ghost' net, just there catching and entangling anything that was in its path."

But not only bad for our local ocean life, Blum points out the net also posed a hazard for boat propellers.

Blum and the other divers took the net out of the water and hauled it to shore. Blum believes the net is illegal. She said there were no identifying marks on the net.

For Blum diving is not only a hobby. She also works as a diving instructor and guide.

"This is basically our livelihood," said Blum. "But not just from a business standpoint. Everybody depends on the ocean. It's very sad."