Discloses a composition for eliciting a feeding or avoidance behaviour in a target fish, avian, or marine mammal comprising: (i) at least one behaviour-eliciting bacterial species derived from a source fish or fishes, wherein said source fish or fishes are known to stimulate or elicit desired feeding or avoidance behaviours in said target fish, avian, or marine mammal and ii) a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable excipient, diluent or vehicle Further discloses that the target fish, avian, or marine mammal exhibits the same feeding or avoidance behaviour whether said target species is in the presence of the source fish or fishes, or is in the presence of the claimed composition. Further discloses that the claimed composition bacteria are substantially intact, chemically fixed and non-luminescent. Further discloses that the response desired feeding or avoidance behaviours occurs within 1 hour of exposure to the composition, and the stimulation is perceived by the target fish, avian or marine mammal via smell and/or taste. Further discloses a method for preparing the composition where the behaviour-eliciting bacterial species is derived from source fish or fishes and combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent or vehicle. Further discloses selected source fish species and bacterial behaviour-eliciting genera.
