Charters and Spearfishing

[jlayman800]

I have been diving for about 20 years. When I first got into the sport, it was common to spear fish. A good dive included a bag of fish. In the last few years, I have noticed a trend toward banning spear fishing on dive boats or when going with certain instructors. I don't appreciate this position, but that is their prerogative.



The thing that is desperately wrong is to not have the honesty to declare your ecological position up front. Recently I made reservations for a boat dive with a dive store about 4 hours from my house. I also got hotel reservations for the night. Imagine my disappointment when the dive store owner said she didn't allow spear fishing just as we were leaving for the boat. First she said it was because it would attract the sharks. It came out later that she doesn't allow any taking of anything (such as crabs and lobsters). She didn't have any problem charging my credit card the $60.00 without telling me that the dive was eco restricted.



If you are going to have a restriction, it should be stated up front. To not do so is cowardly and dishonest. WAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[MechDiver]

Well then, from your first statement where you knew this was happening quite frequently, I personally would have asked the said diveshop what their policy was.

And, I hardly consider someone who does not wish to spear fish, or allow same, an Eco Terrorist

MD

 

[FredT]

The thing that is desperately wrong is to not have the honesty to declare your ecological position up front. Recently I made reservations for a boat dive with a dive store about 4 hours from my house. I also got hotel reservations for the night. Imagine my disappointment when the dive store owner said she didn't allow spear fishing just as we were leaving for the boat. First she said it was because it would attract the sharks. It came out later that she doesn't allow any taking of anything (such as crabs and lobsters). She didn't have any problem charging my credit card the $60.00 without telling me that the dive was eco restricted.

Please post the name of the shop and boat captain so the rest of the ecologically divers can avoid them like the plague.

Spearfishing is THE MOST ECOLOGICALLY SOUND METHOD OF TAKING FISH AND SHELLFISH FOR THE TABLE, bar none. Captains, shops and instructors who discourage it do so because of their own ignorance, laziness, or stupidity!

FT

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I don't know that this is an "eco" issue at all ... and I'm certain it has nothing to do with terrorism (our latest overused term for anything we don't like, I assume).

The issue is one of practicality. In the past 20 years, the popularity of diving as an activity has exploded. During the same time period, the abundance of marine life at most dive sites has declined.

People go out to look at the fish. If you allow spearfishing at popular dive sites, the whole reason most people want to go there declines. Certainly some species will replenish themselves in short order ... but many will not. Can you trust the hunters to be selective?

I have no issues with spearfishing ... but I don't think it's practical, in today's business model, to expect charters hitting the more popular dive sites to want to see people removing the very resources that cause their clients to want to go there.

Around here we have charters that are specifically for hunting. These charters go to places where the desired species are abundant, but for one reason or another are not among the more popular attractions for the recreational diver.

I certainly think it's reasonable to expect you to ask ... before you go ... what the "ground rules" are. I see this as an issue similar to smoking on dive boats ... the charter businesses have to weigh the benefits to one side against the otherand determine which market they want to cater to ... it's up to you to ask before you purchase their service.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[The Kraken]

I've never spearfished so this conundrum interests me purely from the legal aspects of the situation.

What are the rights of the individual to spearfish in public waters with respect to the boat owners right to prohibit such activities exercised from his or her boat?

If restricting spearfishing is the exception rather than the rule on most dive boats then I would think that the policy of the boat should be clearly expressed before the two parties enter into a contract.

 

[MechDiver]

What are the rights of the individual to spearfish in public waters with respect to the boat owners right to prohibit such activities exercised from his or her boat?

One has nothing to do with the other. Your right to smoke in public has absolutely no bearing on my telling you you can't smoke in my car.

 

[simbrooks]

Beyond the whole "is spearing fish safer/better/etc and should it be done" question, its just one of those things, photographers and spearfishers/lobstering people need to go on their own charters - or at least around here with the drift diving - as they spend so much time hanging around doing their thing and are left behind by the group - yes eash diver is responsible for their own dive and you dont need told to do this or that, but going as a group is part of the deal usually around here. So if the DM suddenly decides to hold up the group whilst waiting for these slower people, or you are buddied with one (circumstance buddies) i could see it being a real pain. I see lots of charters just for spearing or lobstering around here - those trips i avoid, i would appreciate the same in return

 

[cdiver2]

I see lots of charters just for spearing or lobstering around here - those trips i avoid, i would appreciate the same in return

On top of the ecological question I don't think charters should mix spearfishing divers and non spearfishing divers on the same boat.

 

[simbrooks]

On top of the ecological question I don't think charters should mix spearfishing divers and non spearfishing divers on the same boat.

Wouldnt the non-divers (ie bubblewatchers dropped off boat) be good target practice for the spearfishers?

I know what you meant.

Again on the photo front, those who take quick snaps are one thing, those who spend a while trying to see the shot and then a few minutes lining up the shot are what i am talking about, not just click and go folks.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

On top of the ecological question I don't think charters should mix spearfishing divers and non spearfishing divers on the same boat.

Totally agree