PADI recently sent an email communication to its members in Florida urging them to oppose the ban on shark feeding. In response to the handful of members who expressed concern over PADI's position, the following explanation was sent to them and made available to the dive industry. ''Thank you for letting us know your opinions regarding the sharkfeeding issue. It is a very complex one without easy, black-and-whiteanswers. As you know, PADI and Project AWARE Foundation are strong advocates of shark conservation and have committed significantresources to the global Protect the Sharks campaign. In line withthat commitment, PADI has taken a position opposing the ban for thefollowing reasons: 1. Experience has shown that participants in responsibly organizedshark feeding encounters become fervent shark conservationists. A good (and equally complex), comparison is to killer whales and marine parks.While there are those who strongly disagree with placing orcas incaptivity and having them perform, it is these contrived, ''unnatural''encounters that removed public fear and fueled killer whale protection.Interactive dives are of key importance for gaining the same change inpublic opinion regarding sharks. 2. Many noted shark experts and scientists do not agree that theseorganized feeding activities increase public risk of attacks. Theyalso do not support comparisons of sharks to bears and alligators. Formore specific information please read ''What Experts Say'' atwww.welovesharks.com. 3. If the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weretruly committed to preventing potential harm to marine life throughbehavioral changes, this ban would not single out divers. The banwould also prevent the thousands of recreational and commercialfisherman from chumming to attract fish and sharks. If a ban is needed,divers should not be the only user group impacted by it. 4. A ban of these activities in Florida will have minimal financialimpact on the overall dive industry, as there are only four operationsinvolved. However, the precedent set by a ban could have far-reachingadverse global effects on shark conservation. It is a direct result ofof shark feeding encounters that the Bahamas, Maldives, Australia andSouth Africa have enacted legislation protecting sharks. Thesecountries now place a higher commercial value on sharks as a livingresource than a harvested one. 5. As a membership organization, PADI supports the trainingactivities of all our members, including distinctive specialties forresponsible interactive marine encounter experiences, such as those the FWCC wishes to ban. We hope we have been able to provide you with a better understandingof the reasons for our position. While we certainly respect your rightto not participate in these types of interaction marine encounterdives, we ask that you respect and support the rights of those diverswho wish to participate in these activities and encourage you to visitwww.welovesharks.com for more detailed information.'' Jeff NadlerPADI Vice PresidentIndustry & Government Relations Sport Diver now publishes a twice-monthly e-newsletter to help guide you to latest stories on dive travel, gear and dive community events.i-Diver will update you on the most recent articles, web exclusives and hottest news items. Click here to sign up.
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