MEXICO CITY - A new government regulation that critics say would allow shark fishermen to use larger nets and operate closer to shore drew a storm of criticism Friday from a broad array of conservationists, sports fishermen and legislators.

A coalition of legislators, environmentalists and tourism industry operators in the Pacific coast state of Baja California published full-page ads in Mexican newspapers Friday asking President Vicente Fox to cancel the new regulations, set to go into effect Sept. 12.

"The regulation will increase (shark) fishing not only far offshore, but also within 50 miles of the coast, an area that protects sports-fishing species, and will foment non-selective capture," according to the ad.

The new regulation would allow boats seeking shark — a popular dish in Mexico, where small, immature sharks are also eaten — to use bigger nets or hook lines.

Fishermen are worried that such fishing could capture large amounts of marlin and sailfish. Sports fishing is one of the mainstays of the Baja California tourism industry.

On Thursday, Mexico's Senate passed a nonbinding resolution calling on the government to rework the regulation to ensure greater protection for marine species.

Government officials have said that some sort of regulation is needed, because unregulated shark fishing also causes a huge amount of damage.

Drag net and other kinds of net fishing in the Gulf of California have long been criticized, because a dozen less-valuable marine species are often scooped up — and usually thrown away or left to die — with each pass of a net.

Associated Press