Why you can't feed the fish in the Red Sea. Fishing - to the Red Sea

Oh, how it saddens me now and always when people try to feed fish. I read this in many reviews. I myself had done this before, until experienced divers - Egyptians - explained to me why this should not be done. I’ll tell you: every fish is obliged by nature to clean the corals and they really do it (I started watching it myself and was convinced that they were really collecting something or as if they were blowing it away with their fancy mouths), until they begin to recognize the taste of the food that tourists feed them. And then they stop cleaning them and the corals die because they become clogged with sand and various waste marine life. So, if we people still want to see the beauty of the most amazing sea in the world in the future, let’s stop disturbing the balance in nature. Do you want to see a lot beautiful fish- just learn to snorkel and it will be much more interesting, or better yet, go diving... It’s just a pity that we destroy the corals ourselves and then go to hotels where they are already dead and then complain that there is nothing to see there. We must preserve this sea for our children and grandchildren, because where else can you see something like this? Now I won’t feed the fish for anything....they don’t die of hunger there)))) Thanks in advance if someone understands and supports. Review text

If you have any contact with the sea in Egypt - swimming, taking part in boat excursions, snorkeling or scuba diving - you will constantly hear warnings about the prohibition of feeding fish.
It is logical that, having seen all the wealth underwater world Red Sea, you immediately have a desire to lure fish and take a closer look at them.
And the easiest way to do this is to lure them with food.

Why can't you feed the fish?
Why and why in Egypt is there a fantastic fine of up to 50 thousand dollars for feeding fish?
Where does such concern for marine life come from, along with a completely barbaric attitude towards the environment?
Guides and conductors say that because we feed the fish, their eating habits, which causes corals to die.
Everything seems to be fine, but between us, the explanation sounds crazy.

Let's dig deeper from the other side.
If you search the Internet for “Shark attacks in Egypt,” then everything quickly falls into place.
If you open Wikipedia on this issue, then one of the versions of a shark attack on tourists in the Sharm el-Sheikh area is given there.
And the following is assumed: from ships in the resort area they dumped meat waste, which attracted sharks to the area.

Here there is a clear logical chain with the ban on feeding fish...

Small fish gather around the swimmer, feed and make noise.
It's attractive large predators- and they are ready to grab onto anyone who did not have time to swim away.
And the slowest swimmer is... let me guess... a man?

By luring all kinds of large and small fish with food, we accustom them to the idea that humans are a source of food.
Small fish grow into big ones, but instincts remain.
When a person does not want to share food - different fish react differently.
Someone will decide that since there are no handouts, they can eat the swimmer.

But even without sharks there is someone who can bite a person.
The same moray eel - the most dangerous predator– in adulthood reaches three meters in length.

From one feeding, it is quite possible that nothing will happen.
But just look at the sea near Sharm el-Sheikh, Taba or Dahab - boats with tourists go one after another.
And everything, as a rule, follows the same route.
Here one fed... there another...
This is how it will be formed sea ​​inhabitants clear relationship people are food.

It’s understandable why the guides don’t talk about this.
After all, shark attacks happen every year, the “yellow” press trumpets about this.
The danger of “getting acquainted” with sea predators is really great.
So they just don’t want to scare us.

So what are the conclusions?
You really can't feed the fish.
The only reason is that it is already dangerous for your life.
But is it worth swimming in the sea - think for yourself, I somehow lost the desire.

______________

Our trip around the world continues. Today we are going on a boat trip. This is Egypt, the southern coast of the Red Sea, the Elguna resort. The youngest and most unusual resort in Egypt.

04.08.2009, 13:48

Our trip around the world continues. Today we are going on a boat trip. This is Egypt, the southern coast of the Red Sea, the Elguna resort. The youngest and most unusual resort in Egypt.

It's peak season now. To those who don't love extreme heat, it's not worth going here. It's hot like in Africa. However, why and how? This is at least northern, but Africa. The equator is just a stone's throw away.

The average temperature in August is +30. There is no rain and you can only hide from the scorching sun in your room or under an umbrella by the cool pool. But for those who like it hot, Egypt in August is just right.

When going on a boat trip, you need to remember a few main things - if you are pale as a toadstool and have just arrived - you will burn out one hundred percent in the first ten minutes. Refrain, have pity on yourself, otherwise you will walk around sunburned for the rest of your days. It is best to take a boat out to last days relaxation when your skin is covered with a bronze tan. And then the cream will not be superfluous.
And when swimming in the sea, you need to know that corals are very dangerous - you should look at them from the outside. The edges are sharp and you can easily cut yourself.

And there is something to look at from the outside. The Red Sea reefs contain more than one hundred and fifty species of corals. And in terms of the number of fish, no other sea can compare with the Red Sea.

Sharks, rays and moray eels are found off the coast. But they don’t just attack people. The guides say that cases of attacks by sea predators on people are rare - you will certainly be bitten if you yourself attack, for example, a shark.

And the coast guard will certainly fine you if you feed the fish. You can't do this. Although if you really want to, then you can. For example, I fed him pieces of shrimp. But here you need to be careful - during such feeding, fish swim from all over the area - the most outlandish colors and sizes. It becomes scary, especially when some blue-orange angelfish tries to bite your toe, mistaking it for a piece of food.

Fishing is permitted during excursions. You need to ask about this when you are going to sea. It happens that tourists are even fed freshly caught fried fish. I don’t know about you, but it’s somehow unusual to eat these colorful sea creatures, so I didn’t dare.

And a few more tips for those who have never been to Egypt - although every year there are fewer and fewer of them. The Red Sea is very salty. It handles well on the water; for those who don’t know how to swim, be sure to learn. But salt eats away at the skin. Before you take the plunge, consider whether there is a fresh water shower nearby.

AND important advice for lovers of free souvenirs, you won’t be able to break corals and bring them home. The resort police are making sure this doesn't happen. And if he notices, he will have to pay a considerable fine.

But let's not talk about sad things - tomorrow we will continue our journey through Egypt. We will visit one of the most grandiose tourist sites in this country - the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Let's set off early in the morning - before the scorching African sun rises too high above the horizon.

For many, the recent news about the arrest of a Chinese man for illegally feeding fish in Phuket and the fined of female tourists in Koh Lipe for taking photographs with starfish. These two events are interrelated and were the result of tightening legislation in the field of protection of marine and coastal resources. The Phuket Gazette talks about the new rules.

Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) have been forced to tighten regulations as they try to save three islands off the coast of Phuket from human damage. A special committee composed of members of the Department for Region 6 (southern Thailand) decided to expand the powers of DMCR inspectors and establish more severe penalties for tourists and boat captains who disturb marine life. New penalties - up to 1 year in prison and/or a fine of 100 thousand baht - apply from May 24, 2016. Thanks to Article 17 of the 2015 Law on the Management of Marine and Coastal Resources, the committee can establish any generally binding rules in areas where environmental threats arise.

Three islands halfway between Phuket and Ko Yao (Koh Kai Nok, Kai Nai and Kai Nui) attracted public attention after in social networks photos of tourists proudly showing off those caught in plastic bags fish Scientists working with the department have found a sharp decline in the number of living corals around the islands - from 80% in 1991 to less than 10% in 2016. From May 27, DMCR officers began patrolling the islands and using their expanded powers. According to the head of DMCR for region 6, Watcharin Tinatalang, at this moment 12 people participate in patrols on a daily basis.

“According to the new law, we have the right to immediately arrest tourists, tour guides and boat captains for interfering with or causing damage to marine resources, as well as complicity in their destruction,” explained Mr. Watcharin.

According to him, from a technical point of view, the islands do not belong to the territory of national parks, therefore they are not subject to appropriate protection requirements. To provide the islands with the necessary protection, the committee moved to expand the supervisory powers of the DMCR.

Previous legislation (Law on the Protection and Protection of wildlife 1992, which recognized corals as a protected species) allowed Department officers to detain and hand over to the police anyone suspected of causing damage to corals. However, officers could not arrest violators for harm caused to other sea life. Under the old law, they faced a fine of up to 40 thousand baht and/or imprisonment for up to 4 years. New law allows DMCR inspectors to detain a tourist for causing damage to any marine resources.

Tourists are no longer insured

Watcharin Tinatalang notes that officers have previously been reluctant to arrest violators and involve the police for fear of causing irreparable harm to tourism's reputation. However, after the new rules come into force, tourists and boat captains will no longer go unpunished.

— The new law will make them afraid. “He demands that we immediately take them to the police station to face charges of violating the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act 1992 and the Marine and Coastal Resources Management Act 2015,” says the DMCR Region 6 chief.

Department officials, having received expanded powers, want to check whether the new rules will scare tourists. For example, if a tourist tortures fish, he will be prosecuted by law. The tourist will first go to the police and then have to appear in court. He will not be able to leave Thailand for the duration of the proceedings.

Thon Tamrongnawasawat, member National Council Reform Committee (NRC), believes that the new rules will not affect the island’s tourism industry in any way:

— They ask me: are we really obliged to arrest tourists, because this will adversely affect the tourism industry? Here's my answer: If tourists do something illegal, are we really going to ignore it just because they're tourists?

Mr. Thon believes that just a few cases of arrest of violators are enough for others to get scared and not do it again. Instead of enjoying their holiday in Phuket, they will have to spend time in the courtroom. Nobody will want this.

“We are not closing the islands or limiting the number of tourists on them, as the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Protection did with Tachai. Tourists can visit the islands as usual, but they just have to obey our laws or be responsible, says Tamrongnawasawat.

Note site. From May 19, all tourist activities are prohibited coral reefs Around Ko Kai Nok, Kai Nai and Kai Nui, officials cleared the beaches of umbrellas and sun loungers and ordered owners to dismantle shops and restaurants. Tourist excursions are only permitted in certain areas. There is no talk of completely closing the islands from tourists.

On May 23, tour operators were invited to a special meeting with officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. For the most part, tour guides and carriers support the new rules.

— I completely agree with the new law. Yes, tourism feeds us, but if it destroys sea ​​life, this only means that we will no longer be able to make money from it. If there are no corals and fish here, tourists will stop coming, so we plan to fully cooperate and obey the new rules,” says Sommit Plokpyet, manager of Gembira Travel & Trading.

Sommit admits that immediately taking violators to the police station is a fairly harsh measure. However, he is confident that it will work. According to him personal experience fines in national parks they don’t work very well, because no one is burdened with a few hundred baht. Another thing is with a forced visit to the police, for which you will have to spend at least a day of vacation.

Wichai Ruyengchongwattana, a representative of the tour operator Sunshine Tours Andaman, agrees with his colleague:

“I think tourists and operators were harming marine life because there were no clear rules. Now they are. We need to print posters with them in English, Thai, Chinese and Russian and install them on the islands. Then we will see if anyone dares to break the law.

Will new rules follow?

Watcharin Tinatalang believes the new rules will also be beneficial for other islands. However, the Department currently does not have enough staff to cover them all.

“The real purpose of this law is not for our officers to arrest people at sea, but to protect environment from degradation. We never wanted to arrest people. We just want them to obey the laws and appreciate natural beauty these islands,” summarizes the head of the Department.

What not to do at sea

• feed fish and other marine life on coral reefs, step on or break coral (according to DMCR)
• cause any harm to any marine life, incl. catch them in bags and other containers, touch and grab them with your hands and photograph them, and even more so kill and maim.

Areas of special attention

• coral reefs near Ko Man Nai in Rayong, Ko Talu and Ko Lyam in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ko Khai in Chumphon, Ko Racha Yai, Ko Mai Thon and Panwa in Phuket (according to DMCR);
• Ko Kai Nok, Kai Nai and Kai Nui (tourist activities on coral reefs are prohibited + a tourist was detained and fined for feeding fish);
• territories of national parks;
• Koh Lipe (tourists were fined for taking photos with a starfish on Instagram);
• Koh Tachai (closed to tourists).

MDYA
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No, never)

Dear Katya008, do you have a leather bag, leather shoes, a leather belt?

I suggest the author close the topic to avoid further skirmishes between those who agree and disagree. If the author disagrees, I myself will make such a request to the moderator, since the topic does not carry any meaning, but only a pouring from empty to empty.

Mikka show me a photo of the chinchilla)

Katya008, we’re not in Egypt right now and we’re not feeding anyone, not even you) here it’s like a forum where issues are discussed from different sides.
Do you still have any arguments?)

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who can confirm this and how?

What if it’s just breakfast and dinner - all the bread is gone?)

I think so if there were no tourists at all and a ticket there would cost about 10 thousand dollars, there would be a lot of fish there, apparently) but you wouldn’t get there)

Katya008, have you been planning a provocative topic for a long time?
From the very name it was to be expected that the battle would unfold between “ours” and “yours”, people would learn a lot about each other, and the fish would still, sorry, die, no matter how bitterly it was. Let's cry.
I think there’s nothing to argue about here; then things will just start getting personal and all that.
Scientific reports on the problems of human influence on plant and animal world in Google waaaaal)
I'm leaving for this, otherwise the moderators will scold me)
Good luck!

These are not my words, but I fully support them

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True, I’m not going to swear or get personal :)

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As I understand it, she ran away from a child, for whom the photographer put her on his shoulder for an exotic, as it were, photo... and she jumped off and ran and came running to me between the chairs and settled there... well, I immediately determined that it was not a rat and on She sat so calmly while she took out her camera and took photos... and then the photographer came running to catch her, hated... he caught her all over Deribasovskaya)))

Karen, where did you find this? in a book for first graders?)))

Do you know that only as many fish will survive as they find food for themselves, wherever they find them.
And aquarium fish live artificial lives and domestic cats and dogs - in natural environment they all simply cannot survive) but thanks to additional feeding they have their chance)
this is the development of evolution)

Dear mikki, I took this from one of the travel sites. I am not an ichthyologist and it is difficult for me to judge whether fish have a chance or not, thanks to their additional information. feeding... But I heard approximately the same thing from the Egyptians. Although, in fact, I used to also like to feed the fish, until they told me that I shouldn’t do this... And they explained why.

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This is from the review on the link from the first page of the topic. Maybe it’s already been discussed - I didn’t have time to read everything.
But the question is - why is this patrol making sure that the fish are not fed?
And this topic is not provocative at all... True, it is really useless to prove anything. It’s better to let the Egyptians set huge fines for feeding fish, maybe at least this will be an effective measure...

Karen, well, these are all such dubious sources - just fairy tales, well, you never know who will write something on the forum and someone somewhere will say)
some of the arguments are really childish)
It’s just that here on the forum more serious arguments have already been discussed and given about how corals and fish develop and bread has nothing to do with it or it plays such an insignificant role. which has no effect on development at all.
And yes, you can tell fairy tales...)

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want a childish answer?
so that the corals bloom? Yes, completely different mechanisms work there.

Here there is a patrol - it means, well, only because of the corals, well, there simply cannot be other reasons)

Girls, you don’t have to go to the point of insanity either :) That’s not the point. How can one live without meat and fish? :) Yes, and you want to wear a fur coat (like last winter, for example), and a bag, still better, a leather one :) We are talking here about the corals of the Red Sea and its fish. The Red Sea is alive and therefore beautiful. And without corals and its fish it will lose its beauty...