REEF RELIEF STATEMENT The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission must ultimately decide this issue on a seemingly straightforward basis; is there, or is there not, sufficient scientific evidence and practical experience to deem regulation or outright prohibition of this questionable activity? Proponents of underwater fish feeding cry, No! They say it provides economic and educational benefits that outweigh the problems. Reef Relief's naturalists and scientists have studied the issue and we believe this is wrong. There is sufficient information and documentation that the feeding of marine wildlife causes: Disruption of normal ecological processes -- it alters natural behavior, changing the distribution and hunting/ feeding patterns of the marine life that is fed, attracting them to a certain dive site so that feeding becomes an event associated with people and boats; IN-DEPTH: No question about the truth of this statement. The fact that fish-feeding attracts marine animals to return to a specified area is exactly why dive operators feed fish. Detrimental health impacts -- the fed marine life becomes dependent on foods they cannot digest properly, or which would not be a part of their varied natural diet otherwise; IN-DEPTH: True but fish-feeders could easily change their policies to feed animals only foods that are part of their natural diet. Increased risk of harm to humans – attacks and bites have been increasingly reported by those conducting the activity and others in the vicinity because the marine life mistake diver's actions for handouts and/ or the marine life lose their natural wariness of humans underwater; IN-DEPTH: The attacks and bites are well-documented. The loss of their natural wariness of humans is actually more threatening to the survival of the animals themselves than the divers. Negative Impact on the Environment – many fed species are predators whose feeding habits provide key roles in the delicate balance of life on coral reefs and other marine habitats, by feeding marine life, we interrupt this important natural interdependent balance. IN-DEPTH: One of the most important lessons of the 20th century teaches us that almost all environmental problems result from human impact that damages the natural balance of ecosystems. We simply ask that all marine life be viewed in their natural state, not trained to become circus sideshow events for profit. Fish and shark feeding dives in Florida, both by charter and individuals, is becoming more popular. Incidents of attack and aggressive behavior by marine wildlife are also increasing. This is neither safe nor a positive educational message to the public. IN-DEPTH: But financially lucrative. In addition, this could have substantial negative consequences to Florida's water-based tourist economy. Florida currently bans the feeding of wildlife in its State Parks and Wildlife Management Areas and specifically prohibits the feeding of bears and alligators throughout the state for these same reasons. The National Marine Fisheries Service prohibits feeding of dolphins and other marine mammals, because it turns them into beggars rather than hunters, dozens of bites have been reported, and people interactions result in altered behavior. Why should the rest of the marine environment be any different? Most divers prefer the natural underwater world. A number of other environmental, fishing and animal interest groups have also joined in support of this ban; including the World Wildlife Fund, Environmental Defense, Wildlife Conservation Society, Caribbean Conservation Corporation, The Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife, Recreational Fishing Alliance, Florida Sportsman Magazine, Watchable Wildlife, Inc. and others. Paul Johnson
Special Projects Coordinator | PADI STATEMENT PADI is not in favor of the proposed ban on shark feeding in Florida for several reasons. The contention by supporters of the ban that shark feeding will lead to a dangerous association of humans with food and increase shark attacks is not substantiated; in fact, evidence from the Shark Attack File and DAN confirms there have been no fatalities attributed to shark feeding activities in the more than one million shark dives recorded over the last thirty years. IN-DEPTH: Most shark attacks do not result in fatalities, they result in injuries. While it may be true that there have been no fatalities attributed to shark feeding, injuries resulting from attacks and bites are well-documented. If it is true that one million shark dives based on shark-feeding have been recorded, this would explain why the industry has a vested interest in ensuring that such a lucrative activity is allowed to continue. And it has proven that this sort of shark tourism promotes shark conservation in several ways. First, by making them more valuable to the local economy as a living resource than as a harvested one. In both the Bahamas and the Republic of the Maldives, government has enacted legislation to protect sharks because of their tourism value; value that comes from organized shark-feeding dives. IN-DEPTH: The value to the tourism industry of sharks is NOT dependent on shark feeding. Governments have enacted legislation to establish marine sanctuaries and protect marine species including sharks, dolphins, turtles and whales where these species are not fed by commercial dive operators. Sharks have value to divers whether they are fed or not. Indeed, according to the results of Cyber Diver shark feeding surveys, unfed sharks have more tourism value than fed sharks. Second, controlled shark dives have converted tens of thousands of divers into ardent shark conservationists. These close and direct encounters with sharks help alleviate fears of sharks and provide opportunities for divers to learn the vital role sharks play in our ecosystem and their vulnerability. IN-DEPTH: It is certainly true that shark feeding brings divers into close contact with sharks. It is also true that such activities can awaken a desire to protect these animals. But encounters with UNFED sharks also alleviate fear, provide a more accurate understanding of natural shark behavior and the role they play in marine ecosystems, and can awaken the same desire to protect these animals. Indeed, such close encounters, whether with fed or unfed sharks, are NOT a prerequisite to awakening a desire to protect them as evidenced by millions of divers who seek to protect marine habitats they have never seen and marine animals they have never encountered. This is why PADI recognizes and credentials shark diving distinctive specialty courses, including feeding experiences, as a means to spread awareness and promote conservation. IN-DEPTH: The bottom line: Sell PADI specialty courses. At the same time, there is not a consensus opinion within the scientific community regarding shark behavior modification. Numerous respected scientists do not endorse the opinion that feeding experiences are harmful. IN-DEPTH: But many respected scientists DO endorse the opinion that feeding is harmful. Environmentally responsible organizations must error on the side of caution until scientific evidence confirms that human impact on ecosystems or specific species is NOT harmful. Consequently, we feel the educational benefits and shark conservation "converts" derived from these activities is quite consistent with Project AWARE's mission and directly supports the Protect the Sharks campaign. Jeff Nadler
Vice President, Industry Relations |
