marine science info & resources

The Effects of Fish Feeding
Many people don't realize that feeding the fish can have negative consequences:

(1) Health problems for the animals fed

(2) Disruption of natural ecological processes and biological communities

(3) Increased risk to people
source: "A case for the regulation of the feeding of fishes and other marine wildlife by divers and snorkelers" by Dr. Bill Alevizon
What You Can Do
  • don't feed the fish any type of food item, and don't buy or use commercially available fish food
  • practice stewardship: educate others about this issue in a gentle manner...you can make a difference!
More references on the effects of fish feeding:
  • Dr. Bill Alevizon's article (Reef Relief)
  • Hanauer, Eric. 1993. Let the critters be critters. Discover Diving 11(1):97-98; Jan/Feb. 1993