A group of fishermen have been slammed on social media after posting a TikTok of themselves using a shark's teeth as a beer can opener. Watch the controversial footage below:
Wyatt Dallison and Cody Scott filmed themselves capturing what is believed to be a sand tiger shark on the coast of Florida, US.
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They are seen to be grabbing the animal by the nose to hold its mouth open so one of them can crack a metal can onto its teeth.
The imprint of its teeth left a hole in the can in which Cody starts to sip beer from, before fist bumping his mate.
Since uploading the video on Wyatt's 58,000 follower TikTok page @outdoorchaos, it caused quite a storm in the comments.
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One user wrote: "Bro, the shark just got abused. He's trying to breathe."
Another user said: "Taking a sand tiger out of the water. Illegal. Recorded yourself doing a crime. Brilliant."
Whilst a third user added: "My brother's friend did this and got fined $5,000."
Reporters approached the TikToker about the stunt in which, Wyatt admitted it 'probably wasn't the greatest idea'.
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His friend, Cody, admitted that he was warned about the clip and the US's National Marine Fisheries confirmed it is illegal to remove a protected shark species from the water, although it remains unclear if the fish was a protected sand tiger shark or not.
Cody, from Pine Grove, West Virginia, said: "Absolutely no sharks were harmed in that video.
"Yes it is illegal to take a shark out of the water. I got a warning from the game warden after the video was taken for it.
"I didn't know at the moment, but I do now so no more sharks will be taken out of the water by me. They have to be dehooked or leader cut in knee-deep water."
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Wyatt, also from Pine Grove, West Virginia, said: "Of course we are not trying to hurt any fish, but I can understand how people can see this as disrespectful."
Florida law prohibits the removal of protected shark species, such as a sand tiger shark, from the water - noting their gills must remain submerged.
The National Marine Fisheries Service, who are responsible for the supervision of the US's ocean resources, said: "All prohibited sharks must be released in the water with a minimum of harm.
"Practicing careful catch and release is important because it can drastically decrease the number of fish that die after being released.
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"Gravity above the water's surface exerts great stress on the fish and lowers its chance of survival after release.
Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News