You'll get no argument from me.  The problem, as usual, is made more complex
by the millions of tourists that visit Florida beaches every year, few of
whom know whether there are shark feedings going on in the area or not.  If
it were only locals at risk rather than tourist dollars, I suspect the
results would have been different.  As it is, however, the revenues of a few
shark feeders does not hold a candle to what would happen if tourists were
to decide Florida's beaches are not safe.

Lee

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Strike" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: [SCUBA-SE] [PublicSafetyDivingAssociationMembers] Swimmer
attacked by shark


> On Tuesday, June 04, 2002 2:36 AM, Mike Wallace wrote:
>
> (snip)
> > TALLAHASSEE -- A shark bit the foot of a teenage swimmer off St. George
> > Island, the first known shark attack on the North Florida island.
> >
> > The boy, 16, underwent three hours of surgery after the attack Friday
> > afternoon and is recovering well, said Jay Abbott, chief of St. George
> Island
> > Fire and Rescue.
>
> (snip)
>
> > Friday's attack was the first off St. George Island, according to
Abbott,
> who
> > has lived on the island for 19 years. People reportedly were fishing and
> > feeding gulls near the boys at the time of the attack, Abbott said.
>
> > He said people shouldn't swim in the Gulf of Mexico near those who are
> > fishing or trying to attract wildlife.
>
> > Officials did not close any beaches or post any warning signs.
>
> > "It's not necessary to go that route," said Abbott. "It's just a freak
> thing.
> > It's their territory, not ours."
>
> At the risk of opening a can of worms - given the controversy about dive
> operators conducting shark feeds - those last paragraphs, it seems to me,
> really sum up the whole issue of the shark debate. :-)
>
> Strike
>