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Hawaii bans shark feeding: second US statewide ban signed into law
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Jun 10, 2002, 8:04:39 PM6/10/02
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Hawaii bans shark feeding: second US statewide ban signed into law
From Marine Safety Group, Inc.
Thursday, June 06, 2002
HONOLULU -- Hawaii has become the second US state within a year to
completely prohibit shark feeding dives.
Gov. Ben Cayetano signed the measure - which was passed by the
Legislature with virtually no opposition - into law yesterday.
The new law, which goes into effect July 1, bans feeding sharks in
state waters and also prohibits businesses from advertising or
soliciting shark feeding.
William Devick, administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources,
said that the new law takes a proactive approach "and prohibits such
activities before they become established in Hawaii."
Devick said that there have been reports of people getting injured
while feeding sharks in Hawaii, but none have been documented.
However, Devick added, "attacks on people involved in feeding
operations have been documented" on the mainland.
Despite continuing claims by the dive industry that shark-feeding
dives are "perfectly safe" and "educational", virtually every
jurisdiction that has recently examined the issue in depth has opted
to ban or strictly regulate the practice in order to better protect
both the public and marine life.
Florida passed a similar ban last November, while the Cayman Islands -
a popular Caribbean dive destination - passed a law prohibiting
shark-feeding dives this past February.
Bob Dimond, President of the Marine Safety Group - an environmental
organization that led the Florida fight to stop the practice - praised
the Hawaii decision.
"Like Florida, Hawaii has taken a big step to protect its huge ocean
tourism industry and its marine life", Dimond said.
"The MSG will now diligently pursue adoption of a complete ban of the
feeding of all marine wildlife in the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary
Program, Dimond added. "We expect the Sanctuary Program to be a leader
when it comes to protecting marine wildlife and habitat, not the last
ones to wake up and smell the coffee."
For more information, contact:
Robert Dimond
President
Marine Safety Group, Inc.
(954) 427 9393
rdi...@bellsouth.net
Web site: http://www.marinesafetygroup.org
From Marine Safety Group, Inc.
Thursday, June 06, 2002
HONOLULU -- Hawaii has become the second US state within a year to
completely prohibit shark feeding dives.
Gov. Ben Cayetano signed the measure - which was passed by the
Legislature with virtually no opposition - into law yesterday.
The new law, which goes into effect July 1, bans feeding sharks in
state waters and also prohibits businesses from advertising or
soliciting shark feeding.
William Devick, administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources,
said that the new law takes a proactive approach "and prohibits such
activities before they become established in Hawaii."
Devick said that there have been reports of people getting injured
while feeding sharks in Hawaii, but none have been documented.
However, Devick added, "attacks on people involved in feeding
operations have been documented" on the mainland.
Despite continuing claims by the dive industry that shark-feeding
dives are "perfectly safe" and "educational", virtually every
jurisdiction that has recently examined the issue in depth has opted
to ban or strictly regulate the practice in order to better protect
both the public and marine life.
Florida passed a similar ban last November, while the Cayman Islands -
a popular Caribbean dive destination - passed a law prohibiting
shark-feeding dives this past February.
Bob Dimond, President of the Marine Safety Group - an environmental
organization that led the Florida fight to stop the practice - praised
the Hawaii decision.
"Like Florida, Hawaii has taken a big step to protect its huge ocean
tourism industry and its marine life", Dimond said.
"The MSG will now diligently pursue adoption of a complete ban of the
feeding of all marine wildlife in the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary
Program, Dimond added. "We expect the Sanctuary Program to be a leader
when it comes to protecting marine wildlife and habitat, not the last
ones to wake up and smell the coffee."
For more information, contact:
Robert Dimond
President
Marine Safety Group, Inc.
(954) 427 9393
rdi...@bellsouth.net
Web site: http://www.marinesafetygroup.org
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