Q: In my marine biology class, we had a debate on shark feeding. Neither side won because we were all left with too many questions. We were wondering if shark feeding is actually legal. If it is, then how is it affecting our beaches? Has the sighting of sharks increased since this practice has started? Does it help the economy? Why was it started in the first place? Everybody is completely stumped on these matters, especially because we live so far away from any beaches (Arizona). Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for you time. -- Meghan
A: Meghan, those are good questions, and I'm sure it made for a stimluating class time.
As of November 2001, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) banned shark feeding, so the practice isn't legal -- at least in Florida waters. Up until this time, the FWC had said no to feeding other types of predators (like those on land), but had allowed people to feed sharks. The reason for the ban, according to the FWC, is that feeding sharks alters their natural behavior.
This is true of nearly all wildlife; they learn to associate people with food. This can be dangerous, especially where predators are involved. Since the shark-feeding ban, the FWC has declared it will fine people caught feeding additional species, so it's obvious that FWC scientists have found that feeding wildlife is a harmful practice.
On the flip side, small businesses that take people out in boats to feed sharks were opposed to this, as you can see. For many, it was a way to make a living. And people who had gone to feed the sharks said they overcame their fear of sharks, or that feeding sharks was a good thing because that's the only way to attract them in order to study them.
Your questions about how shark feeding affects beaches and whether shark attacks have increased since then are likely up for discussion. Both sides of the issue have something in their favor to say about these questions, I'm sure.
You may not have any beaches in Arizona, but if you think about the natural resources your state has and the tourism money that they bring, you'll probably find that there are issues about how to best manage those resources for everyone's benefit -- including the resources themselves.
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