Fish Feeding

Playing with the fish

Prohibited to catch

Protected marine species

Prohibited export

Prohibited to catch

Fishing and collection of the following are prohibited. Turtles, Napolean Wrasse, Dolphin, Whale Shark, Whale, Berried and small lobster, Conch, Giant Clam and Black Coral.

Prohibited for export The following items may not be exported in any form, be it souvenirs or products for commercial use: Turtle, Eel, Pufferfish, Parrotfish, Skate and Ray, Bigeye Scad under 15 cms (6 ins), Bait fish used in tuna fishery, Dolphin Whale, Lobster, All Stony Coral, Triton Shell, Trochus Shell Pearl Oyster and Black Coral.

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Fish Feeding

The final objective of feeding the fish may simply be fun or to get close to them so that one can observe them closely. However this tends to be a one sided bargain, and therefore a bad idea causing great harm to the animals and altering their behavior. In areas where people have been feeding fish for years, behavioral deformations have been observed. Groupers and moray eels that were once inoffensive have become aggressive predators. In these areas, it has become not uncommon for fish to attack divers, causing serious wounds. Often feeders themselves have been bitten by sharks causing injury.

Moreover in most cases what is fed is radically different from their normal diet. Large humphead wrasses have died after being fed dozens of eggs. Large basses have been known to tear sacks of food right out of the feeder’s hand and devour the contents with the bag. The consequence of having indigestible matter in their digestive tracts can easily be imagined.

Shark feeding used to be a great attraction in the Maldives some time ago. Fortunately there is a greater understanding of the marine environment and its creatures and therefore this is almost non-existent at present.

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Playing with the fish

The behavior of various life forms can be observed if you dive calmly and carefully with the right buoyancy. Breathe very slowly and move towards the creature in question, bit by bit- you will find that this way it is possible to observe, photograph or film it in its natural surroundings.

Divers and photographers often hold or seize fish or other species, often stroking them as a friendly gesture or to get them into a good position for a shot, or just for fun. Most fish have a very fine protective layer of mucus on their skin or scales. Stroking or touching the fish can damage this protection, even if it is done with the utmost care. Undesired parasites settle in, causing it great pain and discomfort. Similarly, dragging creatures out of their hiding places could cause stress on their bodies, causing impact lesions on the animal’s internal organs.

Divers have been known to ‘ride’ mantas or hold on to turtles as they swim, often mistakenly thinking that the creature also enjoys the company. However one can imagine the stress that this could cause them as they try to flee from the diver.

Prohibited export