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OK guys, now the non-PC viewpoint of a lifelong collector. 90% of the world's big game fish existing in 1980 are gone. Off the N.E. Atlantic Coast lies a barren ocean bottom the size of Saskatchewan (almost the size of Texas) due to bottom trawling. Bleached coral all over the Caribbean due to climate change (by man?). Shops in Florida and other parts of the U.S. and Caribbean countries sell shells by the MILLIONS-all taken live. Some countries prohibit guys like me from taking a handfull of shells but permit locals to do it as a business. I do understand dive charter ops prohibiting it as a matter of business, as there would be less to look at for future customers (though the party line is that it is for the ecology, not a money issue). As a PADI Master SD, I know the mantra:"Take only pictures, leave only bubbles" and that we must be "ambassadors" setting a good example for all. So if I don't collect any shells, who am I setting an example for, the other 5 divers on the charter? I started collecting by snorkeling at age 15, have been diving for 2 years, and am 53. Guess I missed my chance--now it's rules here, permits there, dirty looks on the boat. Figure this: Fishing license and limits of 4,6 fish of this or that species are rules for the angler--Commercial boat Gulf of Mexico limits are 8,000 POUNDS after cleaning. By the way, in most of Florida, with the exception of Queen Conchs, you can take as many live shells as you want-IF you fork over money to the state for a FISHING license. So much for that. Come to Canada where the shells are few and dull, and nobody gives a hoot what you take--they're not pretty like in the tropics, so I guess that's OK. A guy smokes a cigarette outside-he's polluting the air. Gee, that's a lot of smoke compared to all the world's cars and factories, not to mention natural forest fires. That comparison to shell collectors is not ridiculous. PADI admits that the damage done to reefs by divers is miniscual compared to world pollution. By the way, I don't take live coral. If every individual fisherman took every fish he ever caught it would be less than a drop in the bucket compared to the commercial guys. Collect responsibly. Anti-collectors please don't go so overboard on the little stuff like we tend to do in today's world. The guy who's anti-spearfishing is unbelievable. Hey, you can only spear one at a time and exit before the blood makes you shark bait. This is a bit less that commercial nets on Lake Winnipeg. Just keep it all in perspective. Thanks. Tom H.Shell / Coral collecting.
When we go into a fragile environment we should go down with what we have attached to us and surface again with exactly we took down. Okay if on a conservation dive it is different, or you see a deck plate off a boat balancing over a fan coral then remove it etc, but to take from a reef is threatening to the life of the reef.
One person takes a shell, ok. 2 people take ok. but if it goes on and on it will eventually start to damage the eco system of that reef.
Shells are important, I have noticed over the last few years how scarce large shells are actually becoming. I have seen loads of people breaking off coral, even after being briefed not too. When we actually become divers we should become automatically more concerned toward the enviroment we dive in. We are not wreckies or salvagers trying take pieces with us.If not then dont be a diver.
If you went to the super market to buy food or stores and some one helped them selves to your supplies whilst loading them in your car you'd either call them thief or call the cops.
To steal from a reef is to cause death to the inhabitants who live there. We are no better than thieves or murderers.
In the Maldives you cant even take the dead coral off the beach home with you.
In the Dominican republic dead coral is everywhere, on the beaches, built into breakwaters, walls etc it is very sad to see, coral and shells readily available for collection, but at what price!! Another eco system destroyed by mankind.
Another subject which should be addressed which is equally on par with removal of coral, shells etc is that of feeding fish, ie with bread and bananas and egg etc, A TOTAL NO NO.
Whilst im ranting on, Spear fishing I think is a terrible sport. It should be banned, if a spearfisherman is attacked whilst spear fishing then that goes part and parcel with the risk of spearing fish. It would be nice to see some of the "game" actually win now and then, maybe teach spearfishers a lesson or too and then lets see how things go.
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