Designating Tiger Beach as a new MPA (Marine Protected Area) would curb the ongoing interactions between the Sharks and fishing gear. Recently there has been an influx of sport fisherman purposely targeting these Sharks. The image attached comes from a video uploaded by a group of Florida fisherman who caught a Tiger Shark using a Caribbean Reef Shark as bait. After the Tiger Shark swallowed the Reef Shark they fought the Tiger Shark using a massive reel and belt harness for an unknown amount of time until it was lethargic. Once the 1000lb Tiger Shark was exhausted they pulled her to the side of the boat where they attached a large tail rope. After photos, measuring, and weighing they cut the leader (the Shark has swallowed the massive hook) and release her belly up. 

Many of the Tiger Sharks and the other species have deeply imbedded hooks in their jaws, some even have broken jaws, forever misshapen by their encounter. Protecting Tiger Beach by prohibiting fishing in the area is the only way to avoid these types of interactions which some have been found to even be fatal. In the video by BlackTipH where a Caribbean Reef Shark dies and a Tiger Shark is released after ingesting a hook you also see a well known Great Hammerhead tagged and named Scylla by Bimini Shark Lab and commonly referred to as Patches by divers. Several studies done by University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science show that Hammerheads are the most susceptible of all Sharks to post release mortality. Had Patches been the one to be caught their is great likelihood she would not have survived the fight causing a massive loss to the research by Bimini Shark Lab, Tiger Beach, and the Bahamas as a whole. Granting Tiger Beach further protection and patrolling for people trying to target these famous Sharks is the only solution.