Dorset Spearfishing 2007

[Paul Maxwell]

Morning
I see there is a fair amount of response to my post.
The proposals are there if you want to see / have a say. My opinion is a well rounded, informed view on spearfishing is not a bad thing. At least you guys are aware of things.
Any constructive input would be great. Competitions will always happen.
The opinions on the BSA are my own. The commitee may have a totally different view to me. The point of the post was not to start a debate on the merits of the BSA or to shove it down your throat :martial. It is there just to give you the option to have an input if you want.
Happy Hunting Paul

 

[James T]

Each to their own. I will go to the AGM anyway and lend support to more moderate competition rules. It might not go as far as some would like (myself included) but I will do my bit.

 

[Spaniard]

I think this deserves a thread of it's own, perhaps Pastor can set it up. This is a very interesting debate which, if nothing else serves to illustrate a disparity which has been brewing for sometime. DB Uk-based spearos probably outnumber (i'm including the Guersey boys!) the BSA membership by now if anything best illustrated by the paucity of response to Paul Maxwells ideas on the BSA forum; indeed some of the responses are from DB members. Is the BSA even representative of the majority of UK-based spearos anymore? I myself am not interested in the concept of spearing competitions in any shape or form or anywhere in the world for that matter; I have competed previously in 2 full seasons of UK comps and also a few abroad. I back up all the comments made by those against comps. but also agree with Paul Maxwell about the BSA being the only body who can protect us ALL against potential legislation.

My point is; Is the BSA, who so many here are against because of competition-stance, representing all of our views? Obviously there isn't currently an alternative but should there be? Perhaps a poll?

 

[Almostafish]

Hi Paul

Why don't you include a " Should the comps be fazed out " poll?

The results would give a good idea of how representative of UK spearo's the BSA actually is.

Nobody has ever mentioned raising the safety training, apnea skills, boat work, rope work, VHF use, dealing with emergency's etc so if none of that is what the BSA is working for what exactly is the BSA doing for me?

 

[Paul Maxwell]

Hi again
LIC has 50 members nationwide and only 9 of those compete. The members are very active spearos with effective communication. We could very easily “stand alone” as the only benefits non-competitive LIC members get from the BSA are the 3rd party insurance and bi-annual Newsletter. The reason we do not stand alone is we see the benefits in having an input into the BSA for the same reasons mentioned in my posts i.e. conservation, poss licensing, Spearfishing bans etc that come up from time to time.

If you read the constitution of the BSA you will find it is involved in other aspects outside of competitions. Why set up an alternative if the structure and recognition is there already. Why not work with what is there already. If you feel the BSA is not representing the majority of spearos in the UK and have the time to get involved then come to the AGM in Portsmouth and have your say. The AGM is one practical chance there is to have an input. The social side afterwards is also a good opportunity to have a few drinks and talk about things in a relaxed environment. There are also loads of experienced UK spearfishermen there and it is a good opportunity to talk about the more important side of the BSA which is; Spearfishing.

The new Chairman, Glenn Cooke, is hungry for new ideas to improve, keen to involve non-competitors and extremely interested in input from all types of spearos. Spearos with your ideas and energy can have an input into the BSA.
Why not!

 

[Almostafish]

End Ex End Ex

 

[Pastor]

I think this deserves a thread of it's own, perhaps Pastor can set it up.

Sorry I don't seem to have the the tools to do this with but yes it deserves a thread on its own

 

[Spaniard]

I've voted on BSA site

 

[podge]

I had to join as podge_1 as the activation e-mail for my 1st attempt to join didn’t come through.
Vote has been cast.

 

[sunfish]

My votes gone on. I'm pleasantly surprised to find so many feel as I do. When this discussion started I got the impression that most supported competitions.

 

[kkdavids]

almostafish would be nice if you attended the AGM to put your points across

 

[Almostafish]

I cant see the point K

Dont you think I have made enough noise? I will do more if you think it would help!

Glenn has been cc'd on the emails that Paul and I have been sending and lots of people in the BSA know who I am. I spent Years on the British freediving associations ( BFA ) board and AGM's were pointless apart from the social side at the end. Your not going to tell me that the BSA is different are you?

Your never going to ban comps because its what floats your top guys boats, I know that! Its just about time to ask what everybody else thinks.

Oh Ive just read Johns email ( Members@Spearfishing.org ) I wont paste it cos I get on well with john but what a point he makes! Micro Pollock be buggered!

Thats me in smug mode then.

B.

 

[glowworm]

I have to say that after competing in two competitions in 2006 i was shocked at the weigh in's and what happened to the fish.I was totally unprepared for what i saw and it put me off enough not to rejoin the BSC.

Competitions are no longer welcomed by most spearo's but i can now remember with happiness how many of you all attended the pairs dive @ Portland this year and how many drinks we had:friday

Large gatherings of spearo's should not be banned and the company of other spearo's should be enjoyed and indeed we can all learn from each other but lets eat what we catch....

 

[RockLobster]

This season I'll be mostly 'SPEARFISHING'

on my own - with a mate or on a boat dive with a few mates. Like glowworm it seems to me that most spearos round here are a smashing bunch who enjoy what they do & on the odd occassion get together & enjoy a couple of pints afterwards.

One of the main reasons I enjoy spearfishing so much is down to the simplicity of getting in the water in relatively 'wild' places & getting away from 'organised' groups of folk competing against each other - for me there's too much of that in working life & traditional sports. Yes if the BSA, BFA, BBC..... want to & can play a role in preserving the basic freedoms of our 'sport' then fair play & thankyou. But is a widely recognised fact that the comp side of what they do - well & truly shoots down the moral highground in terms of wider public perception.

For me it has and always will be catch only what you're going to take home to the table.

 

[UK Spearo]

Hey Bryn, I'm gonna buy you a soap box for Chirstmas ha ha ha.....

 

[jwells1989]

hey all,
i have never competed in a competition, but i have seen pictures of people at a weigh in with loads and loads of fish and have wondered what you would actually do with that many fish, i mean you would only need to go in once a year and you have enough fish to last until the next.
i just read your post glowworm and was interested when you said that you where shocked at what happened to the fish after the weigh in, could you tell me what actually did happen to them as i have never understood what you would do witht that many anyway.

 

[Spaniard]

In the olden days, when I last competed, 'bout 8 years ago or so, all the fish were sold to a local fishmonger who would come after the weigh-in and fill his fish boxes. The money from fish sales went to the BSA to help with running costs. Sometimes members of Public would buy some of the 'choicer' fish such as Bass etc. HOWEVER because it is now illegal to sell speared fish i'm not sure what the current status is or what happens to the fish after the comp????

 

[Willpower]

As someone who hasn't competed in a competition i am loath to comment on them, so will defer to those who have been to them. It looks as if the majority of us aren't that interested in competing and that the majority feel that organising competitions and representing British spearfishing don't necessarily sit well together. I do however like the thought of a single organisation representing us rather than 2 or more (divide and conquer) and also recognise the fact that the BSA does some great work on all of our behalfs. Maybe it is because the majority of us are happier doing our own thing that the more organised, competition based bodies represent us, and i don't really see this changing...

 

[fearthespear]

Back to Dorset...I'm going in for a soak at the weekend, its been a while...

 

[glowworm]

OK chaps i am going to make the effort to go to the BSA AGM to listen and male my feeling's know by being there in person.I will be driving up so if anybody else wants to come send me a PM.

I do support the BSA in being the political voice for me personally.

Jwells i won't say what happened to the fish but i will say this for the record that at both weigh ins the public were more interested in what was happeneing and large crowds did gather at both.I wonder if that was what it was like in the 60's,70's and 80's??