This whole discussion is curious. On one hand you have people advocating shark feeding because it doesn't affect their behavior (you seriously believe this?). On the other hand feeding killed lionfish and feeding them to sharks is said (scientists) to have begun to endanger divers. Can't have it both ways. Just sayin' ...
One great point is that any reported shark attacks/injuries (whatever the reason) is bad for sharks.
I'm not advocating feeding
because it doesn't change their behavior. There are obviously new and learned behaviors from the sharks, much the same way your cat might learn that when you go into the cabinet that has their treats or food in it, they're about to be fed. I'm saying that feeding sharks does not turn the sharks into maneaters and the idea of associating humans with food is overstated. They are getting treats, not fed.
As for the argument about lionfish, it's a completely different scenario. If the shark diving world could have conditioned sharks to change and learn behavior in the past 20 - 30 years (or in far fewer years in many locations), than the 60 - 70 years of spearfishing certainly has. If there is a shark in the vicinity, they will hear the slings and rubbers snap, they’ll hear the dying/struggling fish with all of their senses, and instantly start in on the hunt, the kill. There's an infinite difference between a shark in feeding mode and a shark in hunting mode. Spearing fish incites the hunt, which is 450 million years of predatory instinct. Responsible shark diving and shark feeding does nothing of the sort.
You're absolutely right about any reported incident being bad for the sharks. Responsible shark diving facilitates the rational view of sharks and encourages people to advocate for sharks. Safety is paramount because when accidents happen, it’s counterproductive for everyone and everything involved. Responsible shark diving has done quantifiably more to help sharks with little downside. If we passed legislation like this, there’d be a much greater impetus to outlaw cave diving, or rebreather diving, or mixed gas diving….but we wouldn’t stand for that. Our decisions, rules, laws, and policies should be based on facts and logic. Unfortunately, when it comes to sharks, people are very irrational and biased because of all the fear mongering going on. Learn about sharks, study sharks, think rationally about sharks before jumping to conculsions.