[Coral-List] Strobes blind seahorses?

[Delbeek, Charles]

Seahorses and seadragons have been exhibited in public aquaria for decades. I would think that if seahorses would be permanently blinded by flash photography it would have occurred there and been reported. I for one, have never heard of this. I have seen animals flinch and swim towards the surface after being flashed, but they eventually habituate and show no outward signs when being flash photographed within a few days or weeks.

What evidence of _permanent_ "blindness" do these u/w photographers have? I have heard anecdotal reports
Of ghost pipefish, Solenostomus spp., turning upside down, appearing to have died, after being photographed with flash, but I have never witnessed this and I have photographed them several times and seen others doing the same on numerous occasions. If you equate this to being photographed yourself you know there is some after effect to your vision that lasts a few minutes, but do fish experience the same ... I don't know.

Until someone does a controlled study including histopathology, its only conjecture at this point.

Sincerely,

J. Charles Delbeek, M.Sc.

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Julian @ Reefcheck Malaysia
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 9:24 PM
To: 'Melbourne Briscoe'; 'Coral-List'
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Strobes blind seahorses?

Hi Mel
I only have anecdotal evidence, but some photographers have made the same
comments to me. Would be interested to hear more evidence for or against. I
am also a diving instructor!

Julian Hyde
General Manager
Reef Check Malaysia Bhd
03 2161 5948
www.reefcheck.org.my
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-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Melbourne
Briscoe
Sent: Monday, 29 March, 2010 2:55 AM
To: Coral-List
Subject: [Coral-List] Strobes blind seahorses?

I'm hearing in several diving forums that repeated use of strobes in
underwater photography can blind seahorses. Is this based on evidence (if
so, what?), or is it speculation and the precautionary principle at work?

Thanks -
Mel Briscoe
Consortium for Ocean Leadership
and diving instructor
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