Re: spear guns in belize
#14830
05/20/02 07:30 AM
05/20/02 07:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 256 Belize City, Belize
mayatravel
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Yes, As long as you are not diving with tanks or in a protected area. Remember the do and don't of spearfishing-always keep your catch on a long line trailing way behind you, so you don't get mugged by bigger fish.
Maya Travel Services
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Re: spear guns in belize
#14831
05/20/02 07:54 AM
05/20/02 07:54 AM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 50 Guelph, Ontario, Canada
twospotdog
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Dear Hapihapi,
I know for sport fishing, the policy for gringos is catch and release. Maybe spearfishing isn't the most environmentally friendly vacation pastime? Lots of nice underwater cameras out there these days...we'd all like to see the fish. If you want fresh fish for dinner, there are lots of fishermen who could use the extra dough for their catch.
Thanks, Mary
Mary and Rick
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Re: spear guns in belize
#14834
05/20/02 04:16 PM
05/20/02 04:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 50 Guelph, Ontario, Canada
twospotdog
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Mostly, I'd like to see as many fish left in the ocean as possible. I know that in certain areas of the Caribbean, and in the Mediterranean, that in the past spearfishing has severly depleted reef stocks. I don't know what Belize's policy is about this, but if tourism continues to grow, too much of this activity will cause problems. As for what the fish feels, that's anyone's guess. If they swallow the lure while sportfishing, probably best to keep the catch. However, if you only catch them by the lip/jaw, I have to think the pain would be akin to getting your ear (or whatever) pierced. While I agree this is not their choice, I have to think they would prefer this to being dinner. In any event, I'd just rather snorkle or dive and enjoy them alive.
Just my opinion, Mary
Mary and Rick
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Re: spear guns in belize
#14836
05/20/02 06:13 PM
05/20/02 06:13 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,691 Illinois, Arkansas,South Dakot...
bywarren
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Some perspective on spearfishing. When I go and spear a grouper, snapper, hog fish or whatever I want to eat, I am harvesting only that fish. When I fish with hook and line I am catching and releasing fish I do not want to keep. Some of those fish will die do to being hooked in the gills or harmed in other ways. When people eat their shrimp cocktail, alot of other fish, marine life, corals and vegitation have been destroyed and wasted so they can enjoy their treat. When the demand for fish is great, fishermen turn to gill nets and beach traps for a more productive way to get fish. The problem is alot of non-edible or non desired fish are also killed and wasted. Bottom line. Spearfishing is one of, if not the best, ways of harvesting fish for food. If you look at the damage done to fisheries around the world, long lining, gill neting, shrimping trawlers and over fishing for commercial purposes have done the damage. Not someone spearing a fish for supper. Twospotdog: I respectivly submit that your premise spearfishing has depleted reef fish in the Mediteranean and Carribean has failed to correctly identify the problem. Marine fisheries are a renewable resources and if managed and harvested properly will sustain themsleves. What destroys these resources is over harvesting. It is not spearfishing that is the problem. It is the over harvesting by what ever means.
[This message has been edited by bywarren (edited 05-20-2002).]
[This message has been edited by bywarren (edited 05-20-2002).]
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Re: spear guns in belize
#14837
05/21/02 08:27 AM
05/21/02 08:27 AM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 50 Guelph, Ontario, Canada
twospotdog
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Sorry, I don't mean to be diss'n those who are consciencious about their spearfshing. I guess it just brings visions of old James Bond movies into my head, with people people swimming around shooting at anything that moves. And of course, trawlers and such do have a much greater impact on fish stocks. That said, individuals can have a big impact too. I'll relate a story, if I may: We were in Huatulco, Mexico in February, and did a number of dives. After a couple of dives, I asked the divemaster why there weren't any big fish around, just the small guys and moray eels. He said that unfortunately, the bigger fish had been fished out. A grouper had come back to the area several months earlier, and had hung around for a couple of weeks. It was killed by someone, and now there were no more groupers again. I found this extremely sad. Thanks for letting me say what I felt I had to. Mary
Mary and Rick
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