The Spearfishing Debate

For the majority of my life, I bought my fish, like most people, at the grocery store. When I started spearfishing, I discovered a whole new world free of polluted farmed fish. It felt liberating to catch my own dinner

– a symbiotic relationship between the ocean and me.

What surprised me the most, however, was the backlash that came with this lifestyle change. Despite changing my habits for a better, sustainable lifestyle, it was massively misunderstood by some people.

With the advent of “greenwashing”, food sourcing has become a taboo subject, and harvesting your own food is now socially unacceptable. However, it is probably one of the most important topics that needs to be discussed. The world’s overconsumption of fish and seafood is a reality, particularly in

Asia, and turning a blind eye is only aggravating the situation.

The current practices of commercial fishing are destroying the oceans, and it is the lack of discussion that allows big companies to keep doing what they are doing. Telling people to stop an eating habit without providing an alternative simply doesn’t work.

Just as some people grow their own fruits and vegetables to boycott commercial farms that use chemicals, spearfishing is the same concept. It is about not accepting the status quo and consuming fish in an ecological, ethical and responsible way. Can you tell the provenance of the seafood you consume? Well, I can.

Whether you agree with the practice of spearfishing, it is crucial to discuss fish sourcing and possible alternatives. As divers, we should be the precursors of openness and welcome debates on food sourcing, not shutting them down. That being said, by taking the time to discover spearfishing, you’ll find a beautiful lifestyle with an incredible philosophy, filled with people who care deeply about the ocean.