spearing tuna

[rigdvr]

Via the freedivelist.....


Hello Tribe,

Now is the time to act! For all of the freedivers out there who don't
think it's fair that every technique to take Tuna is allowed EXCEPT
SPEARFISHING, now is your chance to make a difference! I heard from a buddy
inside the NMFS (who helps set regs) that this will be our ONE AND ONLY shot
to make a difference to overturn the spearfishing ban on Tuna for a very long
while, could be many years.

Time to speak up and be heard or NOTHING will happen in our favor. If you
think you'll leave it up to 'the other guys' to make it happen, you may as
well forget your chance at a Tuna (legally). Go to this link
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Amendment2/IO_FaxNotice.pdf and download the
PDF file. In it is information about Amendment 2 and how we should contact
the NMFS with our dismay about spearfisherman being left out with regard to
fishing for Tuna. Our money for a permit is just as good as everyone else's!
Spearfisherman will take much fewer Tuna than a 'head boat' a 'weekend
charter', nets, and long liners, why can't we fish too! The answer is WE WILL
if we only take the time to send them a note saying we want to be heard too.
This is the first step towards being heard, the next is the public meetings.
From what I'm told, we may not even have to show up for the meetings IF there
is enough 'noise' heard with an outpouring support for Amendment 2 of public.
Though our chances are MUCH better if people show up to the meeting, we HAVE
to send in faxes, e-mail or letters letting them know we are 'Pro amendment 2'
, or it will not even be available for a vote when the time comes.

IF you do not fell compelled to fight for your spearing rights, by all
means feel free to forward this e-mail to ANYONE who you think might take a
brief moment to send the NMFS a note. Why should virtually everyone else get
to take Tuna by any method they desire and we spearfisherman be left out in
the cold?

Thank you for reading this,

Matt 'Catfish' Richards
South Kingstown, RI

[Charlestondivin]

What is the exact action we need to take? Who do we write/call?

Have always dreamed of taking a tuna. It is hard to think of any reason there might be for spearing of tuna not being allowed.

[donmoore]

I found the paper. But save yourself the trouble and read the one sentence of the 59-page document that relates to spearfishing. It says: “Freedivers have requested the use of spearguns in HMS fisheries”.

This is what I am saying,
“Dear NOAA,
I wish to voice my support of allowing use of spearguns by freedivers in HMS fisheries. The act of spearing a tuna is considered one the ultimate accomplishments for a freediver. The challenge of location, ability to hold breath, correct equipment, and having the fish swim within 18 feet of the diver, makes success difficult. One fish taken in several days of diving is considered good success. Harvest quotas will not be very effected by this method, but it will be highly prized and self rewarding for the few divers able to spear one of these fish.

Freedive spearfishing of HMS fish has been going on for many years on both coasts of the United States. The legality has been ignored, but we wish to be law-abiding citizens and have spearguns added to the list of legal harvest methods.

Sincerely,

Don Moore
South Texas Freediving Association”


Here are the fax numbers:
Headquarters Office (301) 713-1917

NMFS Southeast Regional Permit Office (727) 570-5583

NMFS Northeast Regional Permit Office (978) 281-9366

A list of the meetings is at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Amendment2/extension_fax_notice.pdf They are going on right now so look quickly. I will go to the Port Aransas, TX meeting on June 24, 2004

[chicotrout]

As posted by Sheri
Please send a comment with your support of ammendment2 stating in your own words the following:
- You are a spearfisherman/woman
- would like to be able to hunt tuna in the Atlantic
- would be willing to buy a license and comply with all regulations of migratory species
- You urge the NMFS to make it legal to take tuna in the Atlantic by means of spearfishing
- you fully support Ammendment2

Email to:
060303D.issues@noaa.gov


You can find this thread under General Topics/Spearfishing Regulations/spearing tuna posted by rigdvr.

[Wet Spot]

Bump, this thread needs to be kept up top for a while.

[Screen Name]

Don............I will never get you guys that think it is productive to seperate out freedivers from scuba divers............

It really ticks me off to see selfishness like that, and to think it would work.

[Wet Spot]

Spearing a tuna on scuba is harder than freediving here.

[ROCK BOTTOM]

Come on, Stan, lets give David his props. LA SeaCat holds the Louisiana state record for tuna speared on scuba. Actually, I think he is the only entry for tuna speared while on scuba. He was incredibly fortunate to even see the tuna while scuba diving, but you have to give him his due for shooting and subduing the fish. It was a bit over 125#.

I will be making a motion at the meeting Monday night to support the FRA, RFA and the CCA by paying for club memberships. We definitely have a louder voice if we stay unified and keep direct contact with these three groups. The bottom line is that if we can't find the time to do it as individuals, we need to hire professionals to do it for us. I think we missed a meeting concerning the HMS fisheries Sunday night.

Zz

[TriggerFish]

On the freediving thing. It is worded "freedivers have requested" because years ago it was the blue water hunting freedive community that was pushing for the listing of spearfishing as a allowable gear type for the recreational Atlantic Tuna fishery. If spearfishing is listed as allowable I do not think it would make a distinction between Freedivers and SCUBA. In my letter I use the wording "Divers" and I hope everyone would. 1. as spearfishermen we need all of our numbers to effect change and 2. the issue is simply listing spearfishing as an allowable gear type. We do not want the NMFS to over think the issue and screw it up. :D