Dead shells, live clams, live scallops, fish, lobster, live coral, dead coral, etc?
Thoughts?
Dead shells, live clams, live scallops, fish, lobster, live coral, dead coral, etc?
Thoughts?
SMN Publisher
You should check local laws before 'Harvesting' any of the sea-life in any given area.
Responsible harvesting will allow adequate regeneration of these limited resources.
The moral dilemma of taking another life is best left to someone who understands Buddhism better than I do.
I agree, the careful harvest of any resource is important in maintaining that resource. Most local authorities put limits such as hunting seasons, weight/size limits, numbers per day etc. All those are part of managing those resources and should be seen as such. I don't see that Divers taking lobsters or fish is signifcantly different from a hunter taking a deer or a fisherman taking a salmon. My view, if you're going to kill it, you should be planning on eating it! Killing just for sport or a trophy, whether it be with a bow, rifle or speargun, is not something I would condone.
One difference from a purely sporting standpoint, when fishing, one can usually practise catch and release. Hunting, spearfishing etc. obviously does not give that option.
Take only pictures, leave only bubbles!
If you're following the rules, not always catching your limt and you will eat it I don't see a problem with it at all, in fact that's exactly what I do! I'd rather catch it then pay some to catch it who may be using a fishing method that isn't as environmentally friendly as me with my spear. Personally I don't have a problem taking lobsters, scallops, and some fish but I'd never go hunting for terrestrial animals.
I'm aware that nature is 'red in tooth and claw'. What I am questioning is the implication that without humanity 'carefully harvesting' these animals their survival is in doubt.
Most prey/predator relationships exist as a feedback loop. Too much predation and the prey population crashes and the predators starve. Humanity is not part of that loop, except on a global scale.
To argue that underwater hunting is necessary in order to 'manage' populations of 'resources' is utter nonsense.
You can claim the right to take marine life on the grounds of necessity or economics or even pleasure but, please, don't try to claim that you are doing the animals a favour!
SSMD Diver.
Today is a good day to Dive.
AFAIk there is NO marine ecosystem which evolved with Humans as part of it. Our interference is only possible through the use of technology, most of which developed, on an evolutionary timescale, an eyeblink ago.
If we knew enough about the incredibly complex interactions involved in any marine ecosystem to be able to predict, with any degree of accuracy, the possible results of our actions, then we could say that, on the balance of probability, our activities would be benign or even beneficial. However, we don't and we can't.
SSMD Diver.
Today is a good day to Dive.
Apologies for not making myself clear, my comment with regards to management of these resources was meant as opposed to indiscriminate pillaging. We will take things from the sea, but if some level of control or management is applied we can have a better chance of ensuring those "resources" are not completely wiped out.
I wouldn't argue that underwater hunting is necessary to manage the populations, obviously that is not the case, just that without some level of management those populations are at a greater risk.
Take only pictures, leave only bubbles!