Discrimination against spearos in Pembrokeshire

[Tim1]

Within the Diving Code of Practise (http://endeavour.milford-docks.net/ftp/diving_code.pdf) published by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park authority there is a statement:

"Spearfishing is not acceptable. Leave fish for other to enjoy"

Conversely, PCNP encourage angling (http://www.pcnpa.org.uk/website/default.asp?sid=186&CATID=10&InitApp=True) and are presumably unconcerned about dozens of gut-hooked immature bass...

The PCNP policy statement regarding spearfishing is not supported by legislation or by-laws and seems to be a statement of opinion exhibiting alarming double standards.

So I called PCNP for clarification and found that no one was able to provide any concrete information of its origin or intent though its inclusion may be the thin edge of a wedge which could become the subject of legislation.

I suggest that PCNP should be lobbied for this statement to be removed from their publication.

 

[Spaniard]

Tell me where to sign.........I hate attitudes like that, ignorant fools :head

 

[Pastor]

Tell me where to sign.........

Me too!

 

[Andy Davies]

It appears in the Code of Conduct for scuba so was probably written from the viewpoint of "don't touch, take or interfere with wildlife" for divers.

 

[Andy Davies]

Also, by drawing attention to this point, you will start to highlight a problem that doesn't exist at the moment in Pembrokeshire. Spearfishing is very low key here and it is probably better to keep it that way. IE don't make a mountain out of a molehill!

 

[spaghetti]

We have the same problem in my country with our marine parks, which are run by private scuba diving agencies under State concession. In order to dive there (only in groups) people have to pay a toll to the agency: it's a privatization of the sea.
..and of course we spearos disturb their business: that's why they campaign against us.
Post edited by: MLSAP (Marxist-Leninist Spearos Against Privatizations)

 

[Pastor]

Seem to remember Clive saying that he had to pay the Portland harbour master to spear there last year.

 

[Spaniard]

It's a hit and miss affair with the harbour patrol. I've been moved on when fishing the outside of the arms and sometimes they ignore you; I've also dived the inside of the arms, i.e. inside the harbour and been left alone. Must have been the cammo suit rofl rofl rofl

 

[Tim1]

Also, by drawing attention to this point, you will start to highlight a problem that doesn't exist at the moment in Pembrokeshire. Spearfishing is very low key here and it is probably better to keep it that way. IE don't make a mountain out of a molehill!

You make a very fair point Andy.

Rather than taking issue with the PCNP, perhaps somehow the profile of spearfishing needs to be (generally) raised to remove any misconceptions that we are plunderers of the oceans and are in fact very modest and highly selective harvesters of a natural resource.

 

[Spaniard]

We could wear pink wetsuits and have fish-ticklers instead of guns; then we would be the only gay-spearos in the village.......rofl rofl rofl

 

[UK Spearo]

Last year you had to pay to dive on the Arms in Portland Harbour. This year they have banned it completey. So watch out for the idiot on the harbour master boat.

Just ingoring things doesn't make them go away (head in sand syndrome never works).

 

[Andy Davies]

The incidence of spearfishing in Pembrokeshire is so low that the authorities are hardly aware of it. As long as spearos go about their business discreetly (ie not obviously brandishing spear guns on busy beaches) and observe bass nursery areas and size limits, we won't have any problems. We know that spearfishing is the most selective fishing technique with no bycatch so we can have a clear conciencse. I don't see any need to raise our profile or to educate the wider public. No one is complaining at the moment. Drawing attention to ourselves might just attract someone who wants to have a go for the sake of it. There are plenty of these types moving into our coastal villages at the moment.

 

[Spaniard]

I feel it's inevitable that spearfishing will get banned in this country. There has been at least one incident at british comp a few years ago where 'PETA' types tried to kick off. I'm surprised they haven't appeared at any other comps. Look what has happened to the majority of fieldsports in this country already!! the pro-fox hunting guys had huge support and backing but they lost; if spearfishing gets targeted we have no chance. They are already targeting angling/fishing after the fox-hunt success; if they join forces with someone as anti-spearing as BSAC then there will be a witch-hunt. It won't stop me though even if they do make it illegal.

 

[Jez]

Does anyone know if the PCNP actually have any authority over what you do in the sea? I've worked for a non-coastal national park and wondered if PCNPs' rangers have submarines instead of 4x4s.rofl . It just seems to be a 'code' of practice only.

I can understand regulating diving etc in harbours for safety but the open sea is just that in my book.

Even if the PCNP have some power in this respect, the chances of anyone spotting you, who knows the law and how to enforce it when you turn up for a dive is fairly slim (unless you're unlucky or dumb).

I doubt if anyone in government could justify the time and money involved to organise a ban in the uk. Frankly, I don't know how any ban in Europe hasn't been challenged in Brussels yet (has it?). As far as I am concerned, you can't get any holier than being a responsible conservationist spearo and I'm sure the general public (those who aren't dumb and therefore irrelevant) would understand this.

That code was probably written years ago (like their crap website) in conjunction with someone who knew just a bit about diving. Frankly, I wouldn't wipe my arse with it.:martial

 

[spicer]

Just ingoring things doesn't make them go away (head in sand syndrome never works).

We should ask Spaniard about this he seems to be the expert from his beach photos rofl

I agree that it is a sad situation where the do-gooders campaign to punish the guys who are doing the least damage mostly through ignorance or commercial reasons.

 

[Spaniard]

We should ask Spaniard about this he seems to be the expert from his beach photos rofl

rofl rofl rofl

 

[Andy Davies]

There are no specific byelaws (South Wales Sea Fisheries, PCNP or CCW) appying to spearfishing in the UK , even in the Skomer MNR, that I am aware of. I think it more likely that powers for a ban would come from the fact that someone was carrying a deadly weapon in a public place. I seem to remember from a long time ago that a speargun came under the same classification as a shotgun and required a license etc. although I have never heard of this being enforced.

It would be impossibel I think to create a byelaw to ban spearfishing as you cannot ban a type of fishing gear. A byelaw can only be created to protect a species. The issue of carrying a lethal weapon in a public place is whole different "kettle of fish"!!

 

[podge]

Tell me where to sign.........I hate attitudes like that, ignorant fools :head

Spaniard you are the man how about we tow the do gooders out to sea and add them to an artificial reef.

On a more serious note I am a firearms dealer and on all my dealings and on all the paper work I have seen I have NEVER seen or heard of anything with regard to spearguns. As for carrying them around of course they would be regarded as a dangerous weapon if you were to walk down your local high street with one so would the best thing be to just keep them covered until you get in the sea or onto your boat.

 

[Spaniard]

I remember reading in David Way's book, Spearfishermans handbook, that he had consulted with the police with regard to spearguns and, back then anyway, you did not need any type of license. I used to import spearguns from various european countries and I didn't need any 'special' paperwork or license to do so. There have been cases of spearguns being used in this country in violent situations. A couple of years ago a bloke shot another guy in the face with a trident tipped spear from a pneumatic speargun after they got into a fight. The guy survived but surgeons had a task to say the least to remove trident from his skull.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/3830251.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/3835537.stm

 

[podge]

Just to make sure on the subject of licenses for spearguns I will talk to the head of the firearms licensing department for Avon and Somerset police and see if he can clarify this mater.