Shark Feeding

[SDAnderson]

I think it is really stupid, but on the plus side, those gators are captive and can't harm others who have not made a choice to put themselves in danger. It is illegal to feed wild Alligators in Florida for the same reason it's illegal to feed wild sharks in Florida. If you wrestle a captive gator, you put yourself at risk. I have no issue with that. Go for it. If you feed wild gators or wild sharks, you put me at risk as well. I do have an issue with that.

On a one-to-ten scale, aren't the fishing piers and marinas the ultimate shark feeds? It seems to me that scuba feeds, typically conducted at semi-remote locations and only intermittently are irrelevant compared to the constant smorgasbord of fishing charters motoring through an inlet tossing fish guts over the transom or anglers hanging over the edge of piers chumming the water next to a beach from sunrise to sunset.

The association between scuba shark feeds and attacks on humans - divers or otherwise - seems extremely tenuous. I understand why people would be revolted at the idea of a shark feed but hypothetical nature porn hysteria (gotta love "Shark Week") is more of a problem than all the various shark feeding activities combined.

 

[Walter]

On a one-to-ten scale, aren't the fishing piers and marinas the ultimate shark feeds?

If those folks were in the water, I would agree with you. They aren't.

 

[BDSC]

constant smorgasbord of fishing charters motoring through an inlet tossing fish guts over the transom

(I know this is about shark feeds but this is somewhat similar)

From my understanding and how it was explained to me by the locals, this is pretty much how the popular "Stingray City" dive site got started on Grand Cayman. Years ago the local fisherman would come just inside the reef area to the calm waters to clean their catch (or just get out of rough water). As this continued, it was noticed that the stingrays would come every day for an easy meal. Of course then a few people started to dive it and as Paul Harvey would say, "And now you know the rest of the story." It is now one of the most famous and popular dive sites in the world.

Anyway, I was just wondering if folks that didn't really like the shark dives either approve or disapprove of basically the same thing with the stingrays.

 

[SDAnderson]

If those folks were in the water, I would agree with you. They aren't.

Maybe I'm not understanding you but while the fishermen might not be in the water, what about all those folks that are? The point being, if feeding the sharks represents a hazard to innocent others not involved in the activity why pick scuba feeds as the rallying point instead of feeds that are far more prevalent and expose far more innocents to the risk?

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

My favorite part of the Florida no feed ban is that Captain Slate, who is the original reason for all the hub-bub, does his diving off Key Largo, and pretty much none of the dive sites are in Florida. State waters only extend 3 miles off shore and most dive sites are more than 5 miles off shore. I thought he continued with business as usual, except for all the free publicity

 

[Marriner]

Dude, your argument has some sense. But noones suggesting you get a large chunk of dead seal and waggle it under a great whites nose, that would be comparable to feeding lions. Instead the guy gets geared up in chainmail and feeds a load of ocean scavengers. Reef sharks aren't swimming around the diver waiting to get the drop on him, they understand the source of the food comes from him, not is him. Its a booming industry and if the guys who run them keep it up, then they can prove to the necessary governments that sharks are a good investment and should not be mercilessly finned. Lets face it man if you're a surfer with a nose bleed cruising round the beaches of cape town, then there is certainly higher odds of a shark attack, but your a diver, you should know what shark behaviour is like down there, the ones you do feed, not so dangerous.

 

[Code Monkey]

I have no problem feeding sharks. What I don't like feeding, however, is trolls.

 

[tndiver1]

It is illegal in Florida and for good reason I think. A guy just died about a year ago from a bite during a feeding in the Bahamas that was being run by an extremely experienced operator. If you talk to the people who engage in this work on a day to day basis, you will realize that it is not that safe and there are a number of accidents that probably don't get reported.

In addition it endangers sharks and spearfisherman when the sharks are habituated to this activity. Just because people make money off the activity, does not mean it is wise or justified.

Dumpster Diver - You should educate yourself on this activity and there is more to the accident you are referring to that occurred than you are aware of. Sharks do not eat people they eat dead fish and wounded and sick fish. Unfortunately when a shark bites a human they spit them back out but sometimes cause arterial damage and loss of blood causes death or dismemberment. Sharks are just as intelligent as humans and can see better than humans - they know the difference in food.