Manatee County addresses shark-dragging incident

At the advice of its attorney, the Manatee County Commission will not entertain public comments at public meetings about a boating incident that has garnered national attention.

To open the Aug. 3 land-use meeting, County Attorney Mickey Palmer recited a prepared statement alluding to an incident in the Bradenton area in which a group of men were videotaped dragging a shark behind them at high speed off the coastline. A video of the incident has gone viral since seen on social medial July 25. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is investigating what, if any, laws have been broken.

Palmer stated the commission has “no jurisdiction” on the matter and therefore should not hear comments on the topic at public meetings.

“The matters are being duly investigated by the state authorities,” Palmer said.

County Public Information Officer Nicholas Azzara confirmed that call volume to the commission office has been "high" since the incident occurred, but did not provide more specific details.