DEERFIELD BEACH, Florida (11 Feb 2001) -- PADI, a diver certification organization that is fighting against environmentalists over shark-feeding, suffered a major setback when the Deerfield Beach City Commission voted to ban all feeding of marine wildlife. In a unanimous 5-0 vote approving an ordinance that prohibits "the feeding of marine wildlife in proximity to the public beach," the commission rejected arguments put forward by PADI attorneys that the decision should be left to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A few local dive operators who conduct shark feeding dives in Broward County told the commission that there have been no fatalities related to shark-feeding, but documented injuries from shark and eel bites convinced commissioners that shark feeding poses an unacceptable risk to swimmers, snorkelers and divers. Bruce Hermelee of the Marine Safety Group, who successfully led the effort to ban shark-feeding in Deerfield Beach, said that state and coastal cities have a duty to protect swimmers on state-owned beaches after being put on notice that sharks are being fed in their areas. | | "I applaud the Deerfield Beach commissioners for seeing through the rhetoric that has confused other municipalities and taking bold action to put the safety of its residents ahead of the economic benefit of a small special-interest group," said Bob Dimond of the Marine Safety Group. "We consider this the first step in the elimination of this dangerous activity in all state waters." © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
