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> * [Sec.] 922.132 [proposed] Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities. > * [...] > * (10) _Attracting_ or attempting to attract any white shark > * in California state waters--3 miles seaward of mean high tide-- > * in the Sanctuary. > > There's been a fair amount of debate on the wording of this proposal, > and whether or not it could be interpreted in such a way as to prohibit > diving in the Sanctuary, on the grounds that diving attracts white sharks. I seriously doubt that the people who regulate and enforce this sort of thing will interpret scuba diving as a method of attracting sharks. I suspect they just don't want you to chum the water with heaps of blood in a deleberate attempt to bring them in. > It seems to me that the wording of the proposal would only make diving > related attraction a 'crime' after the fact of attraction (i.e. after > a GWS was sited in persuit of a diver) and therefore not too worrying. I doubt that anyone would even consider it a 'crime' if a WS was seen during a dive. > Other's are concerned that the very act of diving might be considered > an 'attempt to attract' sharks. My question is, is there any reason to > believe (as an expert on shark behaviour) that divers attract sharks; > specifically, can it be proved beyond reasonable doubt that the population > of White Sharks in an area is related to the population of divers in the > same area? I think I know the answer, but I'd like an expert opinion. Although I am not a shark expert, I think ANYONE would be very hard-pressed to categorize scuba-divers as shark attractors. If anything, the divers cause the sharks to stay away. I have friends who study white sharks (including my brother), so I could get an opinion from a real shark expert if you want. However, I honestly don't think that scuba divers are what the supporters of the law have in mind. > If you wouldn't mind, I'd also appreciate your permision to re-send your > responses (with appropriate citation) to the ba_divers mail alias, there > are lots of folks on that list that have their shorts in a bunch over > this issue. If you would prefer not to be quoted, say so, but I'd like > your opinion anyway. Feel free to quote me. In case anyone is interested, my brother is Peter Pyle, who studies white shark feeding behavior in the Farllones (He was featured in the recent NGS special). I can get his opinion if you want. Aloha, Rich
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