On Thu, 9 Nov 2000 22:14:23 -0600, Chuck <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Why not tell the spearfisherman to go after the white?  He might get lucky
>but I would put money on the shark.

Wot a brilliant idea :-) Alas, it wouldnt work :-((
They only chase down things that are defenceless or tame :-(
The later is one of the reasons we have not released location details of to
the public of a lucky find. A huge cave off Rottnest Island that the nurse
sharks frequent in large numbers.

I am not against spearfishing as long as they dont waste what they catch,
stick to the bag limits, take their catch during the open seasons, etc.
What peeves me is when they spear things for kicks - a moray eel that might
have been there for years, a large grouper which is so tame it literally
comes & kisses your mask, a bat fish that welcomes you to a dive site, etc.
Ive seen too many spero competitions where they have dumped what they didnt
want to take home. Or only caught something because they wanted to get the
record that it was the largest .. but had no intention of eating it or
donating its body to marine science, etc.

There are also sea dragon spots where the juveniles hang out that we also
are keeping quiet on so that aquarium collectors dont rape & pillage the
area.

Sad we have to go to these levels to protect something that has every right
to be there but a necessity when money talks.
Viv