Animal advocates gathered at the annual Shark Fishing Tournament in Freeport Saturday to protest the sport that has become a Long Island tradition.

Bill Heath, president of the Freeport Hudson Anglers, says he and his fellow fishermen raise money for Send the Kid Fishing program and sponsor the SPLASH initiative, which cleans up waterways. They also donate all the shark meat to those in need.

However, Jonathan Grindell, of the Long Island Animal Advocates, says the tournament is doing more harm than good. He and his fellow protesters call it wasteful, brutal and threatening to the shark population.