If you have snorkeled at The Money Bar/Dzul-ha or around Buccanos you’ve probably had a lot of Sargent Majors and Chubs come directly toward you. While it is an interesting visual, the behavior is caused by a bad practice.
I’m guessing they aren’t attracted to your colorful mask. Their behavior, swimming directly for me, opening and closing their mouths, means they are expecting a hand out. Conventional wisdom seems to say that feeding reef fish is a bad idea. Two of the negative results are the fish getting used to eating human food, they they stop feeding on algae and then the algae gets out of control. The other danger is feeding the wrong fish and suffering a nasty bite.
Many ocean communities are encouraging snorkel tours to stop the practice of feeding fish for the benefit of their clients.
It is against the law in the Great Barrier Reef park. A program to educated snorkelers and snorkel tours is underway in Hawaii.
Could it work here? After all, there are plenty of fish to see.
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The Sargent Majors will also swarm you if you get near their algae farm or egg clutches!
We already offer PADI and REEF programs to divers and the public at large as well as programs of the Parque Marino. Those may be expanded to deal with this issue, as appropriate.
The best approach would be to use the NGO’s that already exist in Mexico & Cozumel. The first questions to answer are, “What are Mexico’s regulations regarding feeding wild marine animals?”, “Who is feeding the fish?” and “How do you reach those people and convince them that it’s not a good thing?” The answers may also have negative ramifications for those who are killing lionfish and giving them to other fish — I don’t know. Enforcement is a funny thing.
Also, the shore & ocean are Federally controlled — another potential complication.
What a great comment. I imagine getting the snorkel tours to stop will be an uphill battle. There are some responsible ones on the island, but not enough.
The Sargent Majors will also swarm you if you get near their algae farm or egg clutches!
We already offer PADI and REEF programs to divers and the public at large as well as programs of the Parque Marino. Those may be expanded to deal with this issue, as appropriate.
The best approach would be to use the NGO’s that already exist in Mexico & Cozumel. The first questions to answer are, “What are Mexico’s regulations regarding feeding wild marine animals?”, “Who is feeding the fish?” and “How do you reach those people and convince them that it’s not a good thing?” The answers may also have negative ramifications for those who are killing lionfish and giving them to other fish — I don’t know. Enforcement is a funny thing.
Also, the shore & ocean are Federally controlled — another potential complication.
What a great comment. I imagine getting the snorkel tours to stop will be an uphill battle. There are some responsible ones on the island, but not enough.