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My observations indicate divers <i>per se</i> are considered just another
fish unless they are spearfishing or feeding fish. Where spearfishing
occurs fishes learn to avoid divers, especially if they carry a spear.
Where divers frequently feed fish they tend to swarm around divers initially
(unless spearfishing also occurs). Below are two references that
deal with the topic.
<p>This paper compares fish behavior on a reef with intense diving activity
(and fish feeding but no spearfishing or other extractive activities) to
a reef with virtually no diving activity:
<p> Bohnsack, J.A. 1998. Reef fish response to divers
in two ’no-take’ marine reserves in Hawaii. Reef Encounter 23:22-24.
<p>The following reference shows impacts of spearfishing on fish communities.
<p> Bohnsack, J.A. 1982. Effects of piscivorous predator
removal on coral reef fish community structure. Pages 258-267 in
G.M. Cailliet and C.A. Simenstad (eds.), Gutshop’81: Fish Food Habits Studies.
Proc. 3rd Pacific Tech.Workshop. Washington Sea Grant. University
of Washington, Seattle.
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<pre>Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 15:41:53 +0200
From: "Bridget Armstrong" <b.e@mweb.co.za>
Subject: diver effects on fishes
Dear all
Is anyone aware of published information on the effects of divers on the =
behaviour of large predatory reef fish ? There seems to be a widely-help =
public perception that large numbers of divers cause predatory fish to =
avoid the area, while the number of coral-associates (eg Butterflyfish) =
tends to increase.
Are there any coral-reef managers out there that zone reefs particularly =
to provide areas where fish are protected from the effects of divers, as =
opposed to protecting the coral itself from breakage/diseases ?
Many thanks
Bridget Armstrong</pre>
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