DEERFIELD BEACH, Florida (20 July 2001) -- The Marine Safety Group (MSG), a south Florida non-profit public advocacy organization, sharply criticized a recent press release (July 18) issued by The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and aimed at dispelling fears of shark attack in Florida waters. "While the Commission pointed out some interesting facts about sharks and shark attacks", a MSG spokesman stated, "they failed to even mention - let alone warn the public - that SCUBA divers routinely feed wild, dangerous sharks - including bull sharks - just hundreds of yards off some of the State's most crowded beaches." Shark feeding operations create "danger zones" for nearby swimmers and beachgoers, according to Bob Dimond, President of the Marine Safety Group. "Bad things happen when people feed wild animals", Dimond said. "We've seen it with bears, we've seen it with alligators, and now we are seeing it with sharks." At least some experts agree that there is legitimate cause for concern. Dr. Bill Alevizon, a marine biologist who has studied the behavior and ecology of Florida fishes for over 25 years stated, "Florida's coastal waters are naturally home to large numbers of sharks, most of which go about their business without taking particular notice of people. But shark-feeding changes all that, concentrating abnormally large numbers of sharks in a comparatively small area, and methodically teaching these animals to associate people in the water with easily accessible food. When such sites are located near public beaches frequented by unsuspecting bathers and swimmers, it's a recipe for disaster". George Burgess, who maintains the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida, expressed similar concerns in an article calling for regulation of shark feeding dives. "Shark attack rate is profoundly influenced by the concentrations of sharks and humans occupying the water at the same time," Burgess said. "Increases in either generally result in an increased probability of attack". | | According to Burgess, at least two dozen cases of people being bitten during shark-feeding dives have already been documented, as have at least some attacks on non-participants who just happened to visit these places between feeding sessions. "It is ironic that shark-feeding dives freely violate several axioms of conventional wisdom advocated by virtually all attack researchers." Feeding prohibitions are a common tool widely used by wildlife managers to protect both people and animals. Wildlife feeding is illegal in all U.S National Parks and Wildlife Refuges, feeding sharks and other marine life is illegal in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and the feeding of all marine mammals is prohibited in U.S. waters under provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The State of Florida prohibits the feeding of alligators for the same reasons. However, no such prohibitions have yet been extended to feeding sharks and other dangerous marine predators in Florida waters. Because shark feeders operating in Florida's state waters are wholly unregulated at present, no one is really sure how many operators are feeding sharks in Florida waters, which species are most commonly fed, or where all of the feeding sites are. Bob Dimond believes this is wholly unacceptable from a public safety standpoint. "If the State of Florida will not stop these predator feeding dives despite numerous warnings of the dangers posed, there would at least appear to be an obligation to let the public know exactly where sharks are being fed. That way, people can make up their own minds about choosing to be in the water near aggregations of sharks that have been taught to associate people in the water with food." © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
