[Coral-List] Teaching Mega-Fauna to eat Invasive P. Volitans

[Steve Mussman]

Hi Lad,
I'm asking this respectfully. How did feeding marine life suddenly become accredited or acceptable on any level, professionally or otherwise? I totally get the "better fed than dead" argument, but that seems to be a very slippery slope indeed. In my opinion, if shark feeding and handling becomes sanctioned, we must accept the fact that similar interactions will proliferate down the food chain. I'm seeing an obvious trend already developing. Its part of the competitive nature of business. Divers are traveling to destination x for guaranteed shark interactions, what is destination y going to do remain competitive? I think that Damien's YouTube video reflects the fact that its going to prove very difficult to put this genie back in the bottle. 

Regards,
Steve Mussman
Sea Lab Diving    

-----Original Message-----
>From: lad akins <Lad at reef.org>
>Sent: Mar 11, 2016 10:37 AM
>To: 'Damien Beri' <beridl at g.cofc.edu>, coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Teaching Mega-Fauna to eat Invasive P. Volitans
>
>HI Damien,
>
>Please leave the shark feeding to the experts.  
>
>Individual divers offering up their freshly speared catch creates unsafe
>conditions for others in the water.   A number of people have been severely
>bitten by predators (barracudas, eels, etc) looking for a handout.  It can
>also backfire... some locations have stopped lionfish removals due to unsafe
>removal conditions, and even worse, divers have taken out some of these
>"problem" predators who are just doing what they do naturally. How shameful
>is that!
>
>During the annual dive industry lionfish updates at the DEMA show each year
>all in attendance agree that the practice of individual divers feeding
>lionfish to top predators is to be discouraged and DEMA, REEF, PADI, DAN and
>others have agreed that attempting to train predators outside of organized
>and well managed feeding at specific sites is not in our best interest.
>
>Otherwise,  keep up the good removals through spearing and bringing those
>fish up for dinner.
>
>All the best,
>
>Lad
>
>****************************************************************************
>Lad Akins
>Director of Special Projects
>Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
>P O Box 370246
>98300 Overseas Hwy
>Key Largo  FL  33037
>(305) 942-7333 cell
>(305) 852-0030 work
>www.REEF.org
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Damien Beri
>Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2016 1:59 PM
>To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>Subject: [Coral-List] Teaching Mega-Fauna to eat Invasive P. Volitans
>
>Hello my esteemed coral enthusiasts,
>
>Here's a topic for debate,
>
>Ecotourism or Eco-Solution?
>
>As we all know the Lionfish invasion of the Caribbean has severely altered
>the feeding structure of the present reefs.   
>
>While some may could find it controversial to work hands on with animals of
>these communities to try and develops their taste for this insidious white
>meat, I would like to know your thoughts. 
>
>Here is a video where I am directly feeding live Lion Fish to some pretty
>massive Black Tips;
>
>
>
>https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0rRTUjldicU
>
>
>
>Please let me know your thoughts on the PROs Vs. CONs of this mitigation
>method.
>
>Let's make helping the reefs exhilarating!
>
>Warm Regards,
>
>Damien Beri 
>
>
>
>
>
>Sent from my iPhone
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