Any fishing diving spearfishing sea lovers here?

flaneur


Joined: 07/02/2012
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
19/02/2012 21:15

Hello, I love sea and I love spending time on her. I have a small boat (10ft) and a 4 hp outboard motor. As soon as the weather warms up I will start going fishing and diving..



However it would be better if I had a "sea buddy" so that we could keep an eye on each other while at the sea..



So if there are people like me here we could get to know each other..

auguste


Joined: 20/02/2012
Posts: 6

Message Posted:
23/02/2012 19:06

I M NOT YET IN CYPRUS BUT I LL BE SOON FOR LONG TIME AND I FACE SIMILAR PB AS TO DIVE ALONE IS NOT REALLY SECURE. HOWEVER I SHARE YOUR BOTH HOBBY AND I LL BE PLEASED TO BE IN TUCH WİTH YOU ASAP.

I DO NOT KNOW IF CYPRUS 44 HIS PROVIDING MY MAIL TO YOU IF NOT LET ME KNOW I WİLL PROVIDE.

scubaboy


Joined: 20/05/2010
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
23/02/2012 20:16

I dont know if you aew aware or not, but its illegal to spearfish with scuba gear, you can only free dive and spear fish.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
24/02/2012 10:01

You say you are a 'sea lover'!



Obviously only a 'sea lover' because of what you can take by spearfishing. In the Mediterranean most complete underwater ecosystems have long since been destroyed; so, what there is left should be preserved, not further plundered.



A true 'sea lover' takes only pictures [with underwater camera] and a scuba diver leaves only bubbles.



As far as I am aware, in TRNC it is only legal to scuba dive with one of the registered dive schools, or clubs - it is an offence to even buddy dive alone.

Jimbo51


Joined: 24/09/2010
Posts: 79

Message Posted:
24/02/2012 10:33

Be aware of the local law on spearfishing and diving without the company of a registered dive school.The diving laws have always been strict in the Turkish /Greek regions of the Med because of the undiscovered artefacts on the sea bed so make sure you are on the correct side of the law.

Regards spearfishing, it is something that I have never done and I have been an experienced sports diver for over 30 years.You have to take Tenakoutou's(message4) comments very seriously.Conservation is a must in these regions and since the building of the Aswan dam the fish stocks and sea life in this particular area are depleted almost beyond recovery.Please be responsible with your actions and your posts on the forum.

Cocklebay


Joined: 26/02/2011
Posts: 353

Message Posted:
24/02/2012 10:49

Message 4 Tenakoutou I applaud your sentiments! As discussed in a previous thread, the Med is one of the most overfished seas in the world! Soon our children will have no use for flippers and goggles.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
24/02/2012 13:15

In case anyone clicked on my avatar and saw me holding an octopus, rest assured that we coaxed the octopus out of its lair by feeding it on several occasions, to the point where it allowed the photographer and myself to handle it - it was released unharmed.



On another occasion, I was almost to the point of handling a large brown and yellow mottled Moray eel - some Greek Cypriots saw me photographing and feeding the eel [wearing welding gloves!] and they came back and wantonly speared it for no good reason [as they are practically inedible] other than to kill something, which obviously boosts their pathetic egos when they relate the incident[s] to their pals, but really shows them up for what they are - ignorant, cruel and uncaring Third World peasants!

flaneur


Joined: 07/02/2012
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
24/02/2012 18:41

spearfishing means diving without scuba gear.. dont get me wrong.. its an amateur activity and poses no treath to marine life.. well if you ask about the damaged marine life then you have to frown at the big fishing boats that use trolling fishnets that scrape the seabed.. not me.. commercial scale fishing is damaging the marine life not single amateurs like me..



and if you are concerned about the law, I have my license from the government office..



and lastly if you are concerned about sea creatures being hurt whatsoever, then consider what you eat.. paying for seafood at a restaurant or market does not mean that you didnt hurt them.. they have already done it for you.. not seeing it done doesnt clear you out..



no hard feelings.. just my thoughts..

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
24/02/2012 20:31

flaneur/Msg 8:



You are posting thoughtlessly - just as if you think you're the only person spearfishing - how stupid and ignorant can that be?



Try and imagine a few thousand others with your mentality and then ponder the consequences to the already decimated marine environment, particularly around the island of Cyprus.



Frankly, I don't care if you've got a licence, or not - it's high time you and others like you changed your perspective towards what you very well know is counter productive.



For your information I don't eat Mediterranean fish - never have and never will. I only eat fish from what I consider to be oceans with sustainable and reproductive fish stocks.



No hard feelings, either - I'm sure you will act as you see fit!

flaneur


Joined: 07/02/2012
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
25/02/2012 03:39

Tenakoutou,



Thanks for your constructive reply.. Now I imagine a few thousand people spearfishing at a maximum depth of 10-15 meters.. as you well know thats the deepest any average person could dive without gear.. The area to spearfish is so small compared to the great area and depth of the med. sea now can you frankly think spearfishing can hurt the sustainability of the marine life solely?



I am underlining this again.. amateur fishing solely would never hurt marine life.. not even a little.. you should be blaming commercial scale fishing (trolling fishnets that scrape the seabed).. I would get rid of my fishing gear rightaway if I thought doing so would save the sea and the marine life..

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
25/02/2012 08:08

You are obviously totally ignorant of the dire situation in Cyprus.



From my 35 years here, I can quote you countless examples where coastal sites have been decimated by spearfishing, small mesh net fishing, liming and much dynamiting - this is indisputable.



Still, you stick to your Utopian theories - er, how long have you been in Cyprus?



Obviously not long enough to have learned the facts!

Cocklebay


Joined: 26/02/2011
Posts: 353

Message Posted:
25/02/2012 09:49

Not to mention the Turtles that are injured by being snared in discarded fishing lines!!

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
26/02/2012 08:56

flaneur and others of your persuasion:



Why not delve into the facts to find out the truth before attempting to arrogantly assert your erroneous disinformation?



'Greenpeace' will give you the facts re. Cyprus, or the Mediterranean as a whole.

flaneur


Joined: 07/02/2012
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
27/02/2012 02:04

I am against dynamite or fishnets.. these are illegal also.. however you are exaggerating the situation by blaming legal amateur fishing about the decimation of the marine life.. and you are being romantic (literally).. legal amateur fishing is not responsible of any damage to the sea..

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
27/02/2012 02:27

msg 6>............................................................Soon our children will have no use for flippers and goggles



"flippers" cocklebay. Wash your mouth out, they're fins. Flipper was a tv dolphin



T

ps calm down Roy, "forgive them, for they know not what they do" The Holy Bible.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
27/02/2012 08:20

minertor/Msg 15:



Tony, having operated a diving company 'Paphos Sponge Divers' for 11 years, specialising in underwater photography for tourists and having contributed much to John Orr's book 'Seashells of Cyprus' - 15 years of sample collection and both open-water and laboratory, normal and *macro [*through the microscope] photography, I can assure you that I'm not fazed by 'flaneur' and his ilk - they are purely egoists who refuse to accept the facts. However, having the gall to call themselves 'sea lovers', a total contradiction in terms, I admit does 'rattle my cage' to the point where I feel I must respond by attempting to reason with them.



Tony, I realise that there is no reasoning with such 'know-alls'!

flaneur


Joined: 07/02/2012
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
28/02/2012 00:30

dear mister first world gentleman (Tenakoutou)



this is a forum, where people exchange ideas and information.. believe it or not a "know it all" would not care to be here.. if you look carefully i am not arguing or returning personal insults like "egoist" , "ignorant" or "know it all", "cruel".. you even said "Third World peasants" i am not taking any of these on me or my friends..



Maybe you have a history here, maybe you are a moderator or a friend of moderators.. obviously you feel secure enough to boss around.. that doesnt interest me either..



But I have one thing to point out.. your attitude is not constructive or communicable.. you are neither communicating nor reasoning.. so you are not "rattling my cage"..



If you are willing to do some reasoning on a common sense platform refine your attitude and I will be happy to read your ideas and experiences..

moxie


Joined: 23/05/2009
Posts: 969

Message Posted:
28/02/2012 03:25

why does a complete knobb interject on a serious thread with such drivle??

moxie


Joined: 23/05/2009
Posts: 969

Message Posted:
28/02/2012 03:28

sorry msge 15 !!!

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
28/02/2012 08:21

flaneur - what I'm trying to get across to you is that over the years I have personally witnessed whole marine inshore/shoreline marine ecosystems being decimated in Cyprus - nothing more, nothing less.



If you and your pals want to go spearfishing, presumably with pneumatic spearguns, as exclusively sold and used in Cyprus, but illegal in all civilised countries, where only rubber powered ones are allowed by law, be advised that you won't see much to shoot.



If and when you manage to shoot a Groper - not difficult, as these fish are territorial and naturally extremely inquisitive and will swim right up to you, you should be able to shoot it at almost point-blank range.



Go and look at the beautiful Gropers in 'Hur Deniz' shop, laying on a bed of ice, gasping their last and then ask yourself if you want to be responsible for the death of one of these beautiful creatures that take absolutely years to grow and are now classed as an endangered species in the Mediterranean.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
29/02/2012 08:06

Whoops - 'Groper' should have been spelled 'Grouper'!

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
29/02/2012 09:25

I was a fisherman all my life - almost exclusively in the sea. Wherever I have lived I have fished. When I came to Cyprus I brought all my tackle and bought a boat and was out there 2 or 3 days each week. But gradually I came to understand the state of the marine ecology here - I sold my boat and tackle and have ceased fishing altogether. It was the only responsible thing to do.

auguste


Joined: 20/02/2012
Posts: 6

Message Posted:
29/02/2012 14:43

DEAR FLANEUR

I CAN'T BELEIVED WHAT I READ.YOU WERE JUST LOOKING FOR A FRIENDS WHO LIKE DIVING AND FISHING AND I FIND TO MANY PEAPLES TELLING YOU(US) THAT YOU(WE) ARE A BAD,KILLER,DESTRUCTOR AND UNEDUCATED GUY.

THIS IS NOW IN FASHION THAT PEAPLE FILL FREE TO GIVE THEIR OPINION EVEN IF THEY NEVER MEET OR NEVER TALK...... AND AS FAR AS I UNDERSTOOD YOU DID NOT ASK THEIR OPINION.....

SO LET BE IN TUCH AND FORGET THESE CLEAVER PEAPLES WİTCH OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT OF TIME TO SPEND FOR GIVING CRITICS AND LESSONS.

I M WORSE THAN YOU BECAUSE I'M DIVER SINCE 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE ALL ALROUND THE WORLD.FISHER AND HUNTER(10 YEARS IN AFRICA)... SORRY FOR THAT.NOBODY IS PERFECT.WE KEEP IN TUCH UNTILL I'LL BE IN CYPRUS IN SEPTEMBER.I'VE EVEN BIGER HANDICAP AS I'M FRENCH(BASQUE AND BRETON)TURK AND MY WIFE IS CYPRUS CITIZEN.I FORGET TO TELL YOU, I'M USED TO RESPECT LOCAL REGULATION......

TAKE CARE AND SEE YOU. MY NAME IS GUY(Gİ) AS GUY DE MONTPASSANT.LET SEE THE NEXT COMMENTS FOR THE FU

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
01/03/2012 09:34

auguste/Msg 23:



You surely just read what 'Jovial John' wrote, as well as myself and others regarding the state of the marine ecosystem in Cyprus - but, heh, you go ahead and become a great hero Cypriot spearfisherman - Cyprus isn't Africa, or classified as 'open ocean', consequently insufficient nutrients to support a thriving sea life population.

But no worries, you'll soon find yourself blowing bubbles in crystal clear water - but, er, beggar all fish of spearable size!



I make no apologies for sounding 'CLEAVER' in my responses to message 1 - none would be adequate for all you spearfishing 'afficianadoes'!

laptajack


Joined: 04/10/2008
Posts: 95

Message Posted:
01/03/2012 10:02

Auguste,



I have earned my living for only 30 years in professional Diving and other offshore related work World wide.



I have witnessed what Tenakoutou says in many Oceans / seas around the world.



Even in the 80's diving around the med we used to see very few fish, one job off the coast of Sicily it was so earie, we barely saw any fish (and i mean any fish) diving every day round the clock for over a month.



Even off the coast of West Africa recently there were not many fish swimming around, same off Brazil, same in the North Sea, the list goes on and on ( i won't bore you with where i have been)



I Scuba dived in TRNC a few years ago for a week and like Tenakoutou says there was very little sea life to observed, and that include a couple of night dives.



Not sure being French is a handicap though, they produced one of the most prolific and respected commercial diving companies ever...COMEX.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
01/03/2012 11:50

laptajack has absolutely 'coined it'.



I have dived, scuba & snorkel, in various areas around the Mediterranean - South of France - Italy - Mallorca - Malta - Greece & islands - Corfu - Paxos & Anti Paxi - Crete and , of course, Cyprus. In all these locations the marine environment is almost bereft of life. I've always wondered if this situation could be rectified by introducing the New Zealand 'Butter Fish', which is a grazing fish and would maybe eat the Mediterranean 'Sea Grass'. I have observed [and speared with Hawaian Sling pole] these fish feeding off the young kelp roots and sea grass on the Kaikoura coast of NZ. They are the most delicious fish I and many other people claim they have tasted! I am ignorant as to how much research work is being done to rectify the dire situation in the Med. - fish farming is carried out in various European countries, but never successfully in Cyprus. In terms of fish species here the most you're likely to see are Rainbow Wrasse & Damsels!

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
02/03/2012 10:12

So, 'flaneur' & 'auguste' - what comments do you have to offer in response to 22,24,25 & 26?



I'm sure that rational thinking members of CY44 would be interested in your early response!

laptajack


Joined: 04/10/2008
Posts: 95

Message Posted:
03/03/2012 11:05

Probably out looking for fish!

fosterscan


Joined: 27/02/2010
Posts: 541

Message Posted:
03/03/2012 12:14

How is it there are no fish in the sea but the harbour has loads swimming around ? sorry for my naivety

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
03/03/2012 12:40

A lot of people eating in the waterside cafes/restaurants throw food scraps into the water, also some fishermen gut their fish and throw the innards in. Thus the little fish feed, then the bigger ones on the little ones.

Our end of the Med cannot sustain a healthy ecosystem mainly because of the Aswan dam, but also because of the heavy industrial fishing by predominently Turkish and Japanese boats. The Aswan dam stopped all the nutrients, which are the bottom of the food chain, flowing into the Med. It further compounded the problem because these same nutrients once made the plains below the dam very fertile - the 'bread basket' of Egypt. Now the farmers overcome the lack of nutrients by using nitrogen-based fertilisers which wash out of the land and into the sea - but these fertilisers further damage the marine ecosystem.

laptajack


Joined: 04/10/2008
Posts: 95

Message Posted:
03/03/2012 13:37

Interesting post John, regarding the fishing, you wouldn't believe where some of the Russian, French and Spanish factory ships get to. They leave no fish behind which ever sea they fish in.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
03/03/2012 15:30

The Italians strung nets right across the Med. and caught nearly every tuna that used to migrate up as far as Cyprus. I just watched a National Geographic programme on yellow fin tuna fishing in the Philipines - the catches are negligible now due to the pressure of fishing and taking tuna that aren't even mature enough for breeding with their small mesh nets - no regulatory body to prevent all this sacrilege.



Of course, the Yanks are just as guilty with their huge purseiner ships, like the 'Michaelangelo', and as dolphins [mainly Albacora species] swim with tuna, dolphins in their thousand are being drowned in their nets.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
03/03/2012 15:32

Pardon - Albacora species of tuna I meant to say.