TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Biting fish at Orient?

Cacapasa,
You're right -- when tarpon gather near a pier, it's a sign that they expect to be fed. (In many locations, fishermen regularly dispose of fish guts by throwing them off a pier -- and tarpon learn quickly.) Similarly, if you are ever on a snorkeling excursion, and schools of sergeant majors swim up to you eagerly until they are touching your swim mask, that's a sign that the excursion organizers feed the fish regularly, in hopes of creating a show for tourists. Dedicated snorkelers abhor the practice.

The fish in and around St. Martin will be fine without outside feeding. Nature has been providing for them for many years. Reef dwelling fish have many things on the menu from phytoplankton to tiny shrimp to smaller fish that they can feed upon. Reefs represent amazing ecosystems, until man goes in and spoils the delicate balance that exists with them. I'm not saying what he's doing will destroy any nearby reefs, but it's totally unnecessary and when people get bit it even becomes a little dangerous.