SavageRon
Contributor
I just saw a conversation mentioning morality and didn't want to muddy the waters of that conversation, but it included "leave nothing but bubbles" listed as a dive mantra, and I guess it is. It's one that I followed when I started diving a comparatively short time ago, (2 years - 67 dives) but now I'm not so sure.
Of course this is Florida, and there is no such thing as a good lion fish in these waters, so I was ready to make an exception.Then I started buddying with a spear-fisher who became a good friend.
At the same time as I was considering veganism, I was indulging in the freshest of fish; raw within minutes of it's kill. In a furore of ecological conservatism I was all over the internet (and still am) petitioning causes and learning more.
It was in that learning I discovered the techniques used by fishermen and the ridiculous levels of bycatch, as well as overfishing and the reef destruction by commercial vessels.
So that took my personal evolution another step. Suddenly eating spear fished food is about a thousand times better for the environment than eating a can of tuna. Last year I went as far as attending a class on spearfishing at one of the local dive shops, though still haven't made the investment in a gun as I'm moving (overseas) in a couple months.
At this point I'm not vegan, but still cruelty aware. I TRY to eat vegan meals a few times a week, but still indulge in poultry, red meat, and seafood. I try for free range/selectively caught but between the amount of fraud/deception/poor labelling/selectively enforced regulation involved in industry it's impossible to be certain. I do the best I can.
I haven't hunted or killed my own animal for food in twenty years, but I have (and believe it's something that everyone should have had to do at least once in their lives). I watch documentaries on "shark finners" and would more cheerfully eat the steaks made from their bodies, than I would eat a bowl of sharks fin soup.
On the morality of killing, eating is a natural trait for survival. It's immoral not to survive, Killing to eat is part of nature. Being selective and neither cruel or excessive is as natural as way to live as there can be.
I DO NOT want this thread to degenerate into an argument, but I am interested in the perspectives of others; From their own experiences in balancing survival with enjoyment of nature.
(Note to the mods: I know this thread isn't precisely Florida specific, and contemplated putting it in the Pub, but it's the "local flavour" I'm most interested in, since this is where I have been living for the last 4 years or so, and this is the forum I have trawled most frequently, so am more likely to see commentary from some of the "characters" I am most interested in perspectives from. Attitudes are different here, so the regional forum is hopefully not inappropriate.)
Of course this is Florida, and there is no such thing as a good lion fish in these waters, so I was ready to make an exception.Then I started buddying with a spear-fisher who became a good friend.
At the same time as I was considering veganism, I was indulging in the freshest of fish; raw within minutes of it's kill. In a furore of ecological conservatism I was all over the internet (and still am) petitioning causes and learning more.
It was in that learning I discovered the techniques used by fishermen and the ridiculous levels of bycatch, as well as overfishing and the reef destruction by commercial vessels.
So that took my personal evolution another step. Suddenly eating spear fished food is about a thousand times better for the environment than eating a can of tuna. Last year I went as far as attending a class on spearfishing at one of the local dive shops, though still haven't made the investment in a gun as I'm moving (overseas) in a couple months.
At this point I'm not vegan, but still cruelty aware. I TRY to eat vegan meals a few times a week, but still indulge in poultry, red meat, and seafood. I try for free range/selectively caught but between the amount of fraud/deception/poor labelling/selectively enforced regulation involved in industry it's impossible to be certain. I do the best I can.
I haven't hunted or killed my own animal for food in twenty years, but I have (and believe it's something that everyone should have had to do at least once in their lives). I watch documentaries on "shark finners" and would more cheerfully eat the steaks made from their bodies, than I would eat a bowl of sharks fin soup.
On the morality of killing, eating is a natural trait for survival. It's immoral not to survive, Killing to eat is part of nature. Being selective and neither cruel or excessive is as natural as way to live as there can be.
I DO NOT want this thread to degenerate into an argument, but I am interested in the perspectives of others; From their own experiences in balancing survival with enjoyment of nature.
(Note to the mods: I know this thread isn't precisely Florida specific, and contemplated putting it in the Pub, but it's the "local flavour" I'm most interested in, since this is where I have been living for the last 4 years or so, and this is the forum I have trawled most frequently, so am more likely to see commentary from some of the "characters" I am most interested in perspectives from. Attitudes are different here, so the regional forum is hopefully not inappropriate.)
Last edited:
I should probably have added a "only kill lionfish" option too, but with too many possibilities the poll wouldn't encourage conversation and explanation of specifics. I'm sure there were as many rationales out there as there are opinions.
