Cuomo catches and keeps vulnerable shark

Governor Andrew Cuomo is catching criticism after catching a shark off Long Island.

According to the Associated Press, Cuomo reeled in a 154.5-pound thresher shark and tweeted a picture of his catch on Sunday.

The governor's office says he was legally permitted to keep the shark, but social media users are still criticizing the decision.

According to Shark Research Institute Director Marie Levine, threshers are considered vulnerable, a conservation status just below endangered. She says sport fishing is not a leading shark killer, but releasing it would have been preferable.

Levine says New York under Cuomo has actually taken steps to conserve sharks.

AP says this was not the first time Cuomo was pictured with or has caught a shark. Earlier this month, Cuomo's brother and CNN anchor Chris Cuomo posted an Instagram photo of a 9-foot hammerhead shark the brothers caught and released.