To touch or not to touch?

[on_two_wheels]

Feeding animals changes their relationship with humans. This makes them bolder around humans leading to a higher chance of attacks on humans, or makes them more vulnerable to predation by humans.

Hence, the scary part of shark diving....even if you don't touch. If this trend continues, we'll probably start seeing divers on the shark's menu more often.

 

[seaducer]

Hence, the scary part of shark diving....even if you don't touch. If this trend continues, we'll probably start seeing divers on the shark's menu more often.

I don't think so. Sharks don't eat people, and only a few species eat anything that is even close to our size. Of those, we are already at risk, feeding won't make much of a difference one way or the other in that regard.

Of the others, who are targeted by the feeders more, if anything they may begin to asssociate divers with food and come in for a closer look. But with all those senses as soon as they detect nothing of interest they will leave.

No, I think the scary part of shark feeds is for the sharks. But I do not yet by all the arguments one way or the other.

 

[highdesert]

Deefstes, before you walk away from your thread, I'd like to thank you for raising the issue. It created a good conversation, with only the usual amount of flaming.

 

[Walter]

Why should you care what I think? You shouldn't.

Why am I telling you this? Because it's an internet discussion board.

Actually, I respect folks who have a strongly held opinion and try to convince others that their opinion is correct. I may disagree with you, but I'll respect your opinion as long as you are trying to convince me, but not trying to force me to conform.

 

[BigDawgDiver]

Upon further review, I still think one shouldn't be molesting the wildlife for their own amusement. Not that it's the worst sin in the world, but if you have to come down either for or against the proposition, it's better to be against it.

Hey!! In the immortal words of another American, "I have never had sex with that manatee... woman.... whatever.." And those dolphin molestation charges were totally dropped! She said she was an 18 year old porpoise. What's a guy to do?

Now on a real note... I don't see interaction with the wildlife as harmful, if responsibly done. Touching or not touching, you are still interacting with the environment by being there. Be smart. check IDs.....

 

[seaducer]

Deefstes, before you walk away from your thread, I'd like to thank you for raising the issue. It created a good conversation, with only the usual amount of flaming.

I actually think it was less than the ussual flaming, we were all pretty well behaved in what amounts to a very passionate subject.

As for Deefstes, if he is that sensitive perhaps it is best that he leave. If you are going to try and convince people that what they are doing is wrong, you need to have a thick skin. You also need to be aware that you are rarely going to sway the opposition, but what you are really doing is putting information out there for those who have not given the subject much consideration.

Anyway I think this particular thread has just about run it's course. But the topic will be back, and so will I

 

[Guba]

I agree. This is a good question to ask of ourselves as we broaden our diving experiences and consider our roles underwater. It's satisfying to see the posts of other divers who step back and think about what kind of role they want to play as they visit our oceans, and I mean that both ways...those who might touch too much and might now refrain, and those who don't touch at all who might see a time when it might not be harmful.
As for me, I'll continue to hold off on the unnecessary handling. While I know that there are some situations in which touching the fawna might not be outright harmful, I'll still continue a hands-off policy for yet one other reason...the example it sets. I'm a professional educator, and I'm always mindful that others are watching. While I might see a situation in which picking up a critter is harmless, does that diver watching me know why it's okay in that situation and not in another? If I can't be sure, then I'll keep my hands to myself.
I can only refer to some things I've witnessed and even have on tape. I watched a fellow grab a resting nurse shark until it fled, and later that same person pushed a feeding turtle off its feeding area. Yes, I got that on video, and I use it to show students and divers what NOT to do, because I don't think there is any question that this is something that should be discouraged.
As for the regs in the Flower Gardens...Walter, I dive with those folks (staff members at the NMS) and they have conditioned me not to touch just about anything down there. It might not be against the rules to tickle a cowfish, but they sure don't like to see you do it. They've also amended one of their own promo videos that once showed a fellow talking about petting a manta. The written regulations are one thing, but their example is another.

 

[Sideband]

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. ~ Shakespeare

So Shakespeare was pro touching I guess.

 

[on_two_wheels]

I don't think so. Sharks don't eat people, and only a few species eat anything that is even close to our size. Of those, we are already at risk, feeding won't make much of a difference one way or the other in that regard.

Of the others, who are targeted by the feeders more, if anything they may begin to asssociate divers with food and come in for a closer look. But with all those senses as soon as they detect nothing of interest they will leave.

......Yet!!

What you said should be a concern to everyone....they may begin to associate humans with food. It might be 10, 20, even 100 years from now but after they mistakenly bite enough people they could very easily realize we are, in fact, edible. Pavlov's Law will eventually kick in. If I touch something and cause damage to the ecosystem I may not see the effects in my lifetime. Does it really matter then? If so, this remains a dangerous tourist attraction since there's insufficient data to show that what I'm talking about WON'T happen. Granted, I could be wrong.....agreed. However, if I happen to be right, eventually they'll be touching us!!

Just like touching, interaction should be done responsibly. I don't think feeding sharks is responsible. They're predators...let them seek out their prey, not be fed like pets.

On a side note, excellent discussion thus far. Some great points from many people and a few things I wouldn't have thought of.

 

[saeac]

Whenever this question comes up, I wonder:

How would you like to have some stranger you see on the street come up and poke you, or stroke you, or pick you up, or turn you over? - or, for those who 'only' touch in the interest of a better photo op - pose you? Especially one who is more than likely about 10 times your size or bigger.

Leave the wildlife alone! They have no affinity for us.