The Issue: The Government Is Trying to Ban Shark Diving in Florida Don’t be misled by the name—the “Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025” does not make the seas, sharks, or Floridians any safer. What it does do is unfairly target Florida’s shark diving ecotourism industry by banning the use of bait (chumming) to attract sharks for diving tours—while allowing fishermen to continue chumming to catch and kill sharks. This ban applies only to shark diving operators, not to the thousands of fishing vessels already chumming off Florida’s coasts. Here’s what you need to know: • Shark diving has been operating safely for decades over 3 nautical miles offshore—far from beaches where human-shark incidents occur. • Fewer than 10 shark diving companies operate in Florida, compared to thousands of fishing vessels that bait sharks daily. • This bill will cripple a safe, sustainable, and science-supported industry that educates the public, funds shark research, and supports over 3,000 jobs and hundreds of millions in tourism revenue. • Numerous scientific studies confirm that baited shark dives have little to no long-term impact on shark behavior. • Shark populations are in crisis. Over 100 million sharks are killed each year, with oceanic sharks down more than 70% since 1970. Banning shark diving does nothing to address this. • Shark diving tours help protect sharks—not endanger them. These operations raise awareness, fund conservation, and partner with universities for critical research. The truth? This bill benefits the fishing industry, not the public or the planet. It restricts who gets access to sharks—not to protect them, but to prioritize killing over conservation. Speak up for sharks and ocean health. Sign the petition today.