‘Keep Hookers off the Pier!’ banner to fly over Manhattan Beach

A banner reading “Keep Hookers off the Pier! Ban Fishing” will fly over Manhattan Beach as part of a lobbying effort by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ahead of a City Council vote on the issue Tuesday night.

In the wake of a shark attack near the pier over Fourth of July weekend, Manhattan Beach temporarily banned fishing on the pier amid concern that a fisherman’s bait might have lured the shark closer to shore and agitated the predator as it thrashed on the line for nearly an hour.

Some have proposed making the ban permanent.

The provocatively phrased PETA banner “will remind beach communities in Los Angeles County that the best way to protect coastal wildlife – and keep swimmers safe – is to ban pier fishing,” the organization said in a statement.

“People who live in a costal community can and should call their city council representatives,” PETA urged, “and demand that permanent bans be passed as soon as possible.”

The airplane-drawn banner is scheduled to fly overhead from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the group said.

Fishing enthusiasts argue that many of the public piers were built for fishing and provide public access for residents who see the sport as an inexpensive hobby or a way to feed their families. Others question the wisdom of allowing fishermen, some of whom hunt for sharks, to cast out so close to areas used by surfers and swimmers.

Manhattan Beach officials have closed the pier to anglers until September, citing the need to protect public safety while they study options for further regulating the pier area.

City Council members are expected to decide Tuesday whether to declare pier fishing a public nuisance, in order to back up their 60-day ban, said Manhattan Beach Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Powell.

Some have called for the ban to be made permanent, a move that state wildlife officials have said they oppose.

Manhattan Beach Mayor Amy Howorth has said she and other city leaders are searching for a “reasonable” solution to the controversy.

“I don’t like that we’ve demonized fishermen because one guy was behaving seemingly very horribly,” Howorth said. “I certainly want to make it safe for people to enjoy the water and water sports.”

Howorth said that among the options city staff has been exploring is the possibility of limiting fishing hours on the pier.

The shark attack victim – real estate broker Steven Robles, 50 – told The Times he has no medical insurance and is facing a pile of hospital bills and hasn’t been able to go back to work. Friends have set up a fundraising page in his name.

He called the fishermen’s actions the day he was attacked “reckless” and “stupid.”

Jason Hagemann, one of the fishermen who hooked the shark, has vigorously defended his actions in the media. State wildlife officials have said they would not prosecute him.

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