Become an ecofriendly diver tip 5: Choose not to touch or handle anything underwater
We as humans don’t feel the need to go up to strangers in the street and touch them so why do we feel the need to touch marine life? Maybe it’s just curiosity, after all it is in our natural instinct to touch things that we want to know more about.
But does this make it okay? Put simply, no, it does not. A huge amount of fish species and corals are actually protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which makes it illegal to touch them (NOAA FISHERIES- National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration 2019).
Most animals reply on sight, touch, sound, taste and smell as do we. Making contact with a species can not only be seen as harassment but it will also heighten a creature’s sensors causing an animal to stress which may put a diver in unnecessary harm by provoking aggressive behaviour.
Animals and corals both have defence mechanisms. Therefore, it is not uncommon for divers to find they may be a target if they reach out to a particular animal. All species are different in the way they protect themselves. A number of fishes protect themselves with their spines. They will raise their hard spines to make them look bigger so that it becomes harder for predatory fish to eat them. Within Palau triggerfish are a great example of this. They will also charge towards predators, so lookout and make sure you’re not their next target.
Surgeonfish are also another family with defence mechanisms. Surgeonfish have sharp blades where the tail fin meets the body. If they feel they are threatened they will raise the blade and make it visible to predators. To humans this could quite easily cut skin and be very painful.
A lot of species of fish can also unload poisonous chemicals if threatened. Some of the most common species around Palau include the lionfish, stonefish and the scorpionfish. Any sort of sting/bite will be tremendously painful and can take a very long time to heal.
Is touching marine life hurting them?
Corals and fish are covered with a layer of anti-bacterial mucous which protects them by killing off parasites and helping them fight against infection. Therefore, by touching a marine species with this layer you are removing the mucous that is protecting them.
Take the time to understand marine life, capture images from a distance and make sure that all laws and regulations are followed.