Who Really Killed Bluey?Powered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
by Dr. MARI ANDOThe following editorial is reprinted by permission of IN-DEPTH magazine | Happier times--a snorkeler feeding Bluey, an invitation to a premature death |
Bluey, the celebrated groper who used to inhabit shallow waters off Sydney Australia, was speared last week, then dragged to shore and finished off by trauma from a blunt instrument - all in front of horrified beachgoers.According to the New Sydney Times, "The metre-long fish was a star in snorkelling and diving circles and his death has left locals, including the Premier, shocked." And shocked and outraged they should be. But so far, the mounting calls for justice are all directed solely at the triggerman. Did he really act alone? Until now, we have heard not a whisper of the undeniable connection between Bluey's role as a "a star in snorkeling and diving circles" and his tragic demise. What connection, you ask? The connection between his death and the making of a once-wild Bluey into a local pet, through regular hand-feeding by "friendly" divers and snorkelers. What does that have to do with some yahoo poacher killing this fish? A lot. According to U.S. National Park Service experts, "Feeding can result in animals becoming habituated to human handouts and...it puts animals in danger of being killed by poachers". Sure, the young man who pulled the trigger and wielded the dive knife has his share of the blame. But - ask any wildlife manager - so do all those kindhearted people who taught Bluey - through years of conditioning from handouts - to approach divers without fear, putting the fish in a position where the yahoo could just swim right up and put one between the opercles. Truth is, this is not a new story at all. Wildlife experts have told us all for many years that "A fed animal is a dead animal" - that catchy little line was even made a poster recently in Canada's National parks. Is there any doubt - any at all - that Bluey's behavior had been altered by years of feeding? Hardly. According to local diver Matthew Brown, 34, of Randwick, Bluey had always recognized regular snorkelers. "He was like the star actor on the stage". Who killed Bluey? "Not us!", says the dive industry who promotes "interactive diving" - the industry code word for wildlife feeding dives. Really? Then why is Bluey now interacting with a frying pan? Who killed Bluey? "Not us", cry the divers who have been feeding Bluey. "We loved him!" Yes you did - to death. In their continued, strident defense of "interactive diving", spokesmen for the dive industry are fond of bolstering their claims of "no impact" by asking the same tired question: "Where's the dead body?" Anyone out there care to ask Bluey that question? Reprinted by permission of IN-DEPTH Magazine. Copyright © IN-DEPTH. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written consent of IN-DEPTH. SCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum | 
