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02/03/2005: "Big Fish .........a tame Turrum"

At Low Isles (offshore from Port Douglas, Qld) a huge turrum has established a territory.

Fed by visitors, the big fish has now been sighted daily for more than 12 months. It does the rounds of the anchored boats at this National Park within the marine parks. No fishing has been alllowed here for years. The fish soon get to know this.

What a different world the sea might have been if we didn't rely on seafood so much. Fish so tame it is hard to imagine. Food is always the key. When food is offered, all sea animals can be conditioned to respond or to be trained. Sometimes this isn't such a brilliant idea. A point the shark-cage-diver boats might consider when they add chum or burley to the ocean, near populated places. How close is too close?

With tame fish, it seems a crime to catch them....and at Low Isles it would be. But all fish can be trained.......what I'm trying to say is........more sanctuaries are needed. A balance at least.