Editorial

I love spearfishing! It fulfills me emotionally, provides a great physical work out, and sharpens my mind. Plus, at the end of the day, spearfishing allows me to provide for my family, a table of the best quality food collected by my own hands, while still following the ancient food-collector’s path. This is a sacred tradition printed within the genes of our human race.
Spearfishing is a sport that has minimal impact on the environment. Compared to other fishing methods, it is by far the most environmentally friendly. Spearfishing is the only fish harvesting method that allows the fisherman to select his catch. While sport fishermen practice “catch and release,” some of the exhausted fish will not survive. A conscious spearo releases his prey before even catching it. Why? Possibly because the fish is in its spawning season, or is a rare species… or maybe because the fish is too small, or too easy of a catch, perhaps it doesn’t even taste that good. There are a multitude of responsible reasons a spearo won’t go for the kill.
That well-spoken choice is the main reason spearfishing is so unique. And of course the way that everything happens: holding your breath, entering the fish’s underwater universe, becoming exactly like them, hunters and at the same time, links in the food chain. I am sure that if a speared fish could speak, it wouldn’t argue a lot, and probably would accept their destiny patiently; the way fish live their entire life, as hunters and as prey. I am also sure that if they could choose their way of death, they would prefer by a speargun, which is fast and deadly. Just imagine a tuna fighting for hours with a hook line before dying, or a glorious dentex drowning in fishing nets…
All of this makes you wonder. Why are there protests against spearfishing and even worse, certain governments proceeding with restrictions and prohibitions? Why are average environmentalists against our beloved activity and us? Are we so harmful to the environment?
The first answer comes from the Italian spearfishing guru, Giorgio Dapiran. While philosophizing in one of his movies, he said that everything began at the start of the past century. It was then that Walt Disney first created Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, and by personifying animals, he gave them the appearance of logic and a soul. According to Giorgio, the humanization of animals is a main cause for the later awareness of mankind rejecting almost all hunting techniques. This is just one explanation that covers the environmental concern of common people. This controversy is a rare phenomenon, considering spearos are usually admired for being able to freedive in the ocean and catch delicious fish. The biggest problem originates within the two main groups of people related to sea activities: commercial fishermen and diving centers.
The first group consisting of fishermen has the wrong idea entirely. They consider the sea and its residents as something to own and the spearo is the enemy because he steals their belongings, their property. This, along with the famous fisherman’s jealousy, leads to a really explosive combination. In many cases, commercial fishermen through their unions around the world might influence, even blackmail governments…
Scuba divers along with the owners of diving centers would prefer the ocean to be tame and motionless, serving as a museum for their underwater stills. However, Mother Nature has a different opinion. The Oceans remain the last wild frontier and we, the spearfishers, follow this example. Existing diving parks are more than enough -accept no more.
As for us, we definitely have a portion of responsibility. All of the hero overexposure with lifting tons of groupers for example, has previous decades ensuring sworn enemies of the sport and still engages plenty of arguments against us. Thankfully, this seems to be changing although there are still dinosaurs out there that not only kill too many fish, but also show no hesitation in presenting their “achievements” in public view through many outlets in places such as on the internet. I have a wish for all of them: “Good fishing!”*
The right to choose is what adds glamour to the sport we defined “modern spearfishing”. Let’s rise up to it.

*A “bad luck” wish among Mediterranean spearos.