DATELINE: 2nd October 2001

SHARK FEED SHOCK
Diving operators in Florida have reacted furiously to a new proposal that would bring an end to shark feeding or baiting by divers.
The measure, proposed by Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, follows a spate of attacks by sharks on swimmers and surfers off the state's beaches.
Among the incidents, an eight-year-old boy was attacked off a beach near Pensacola; six surfers off New Smyrna Beach; and three surfers off Daytona. These attacks were not fatal but left some serious wounds.
The idea behind the proposed ban is that encouraging sharks to link food with humans may lead to an increased incidence of attacks on people.
But Florida's four main diving operators have responded by saying that the problem lies not with shark-interaction activities by divers, but with widescale line fishing.
The proposed ban covers any form of marine life feeding, or use of food to attract marine life, by divers and snorkellers - but not fishermen.
One diving operator, Jim Abernethy of Palm Beach, said: "I feed minor quantities of dead fish to a small, mostly resident shark population off West Palm Beach. Fishermen, however, hook live fish, which fight for their lives."
Whereas sharks will follow a scent trail - such as that emitted by dead bait - in a leisurely manner, they will rush far more aggressively toward vibrations given off by a live but injured fish.
Abernethy referred to comments by shark behavourist Dr Rocky Strong, who said: "An odour carried down-current indicates only that a potential meal awaits. The shark gets few or no clues as to how many competitors might be beating him to it. It's worth investigating, but not expending a lot of energy for.
"Sounds emitted by a struggling fish, however, indicate that a fresh, vulnerable meal is not far away. If the shark can get there quickly, he stands a good chance of obtaining a high-quality meal.
"He races to get there - and when more than one shark enters the contest, the result is often what is described as a feeding frenzy."
Off Florida's coastline, said Abernethy, widespread fishing activity involved the setting of bait or chum to lure in fish, whereupon "thousands upon thousands of fish are hooked all day, every day...emitting smells and tell-tale sounds that bring sharks rushing in like ringing a dinner bell".
Abernethy quoted one of the attacked surfers as having said: "I saw a couple of sharks going after a fisherman's hooked fish, closer to shore, and then I felt something, like someone had kicked me in the leg."
If such fishing activities continued off public beaches in this way, said Abernethy, it would be a "recipe for trouble".

---