Spearfishing Explained

What is Spearfishing?

Spearfishing is an ancient form of fishing once practiced for survival. Spearfishing is now a popular recreational activity practiced by many around the globe for sport, commerce, or subsistence.

Early civilizations are familiar with spearing fish out of rivers using sharpened sticks to catch food. Traditional spearfishing required the use of spears or tridents from land or in shallow waters. The development of the speargun revolutionized this fishing method. Spearfishing is now mainly practiced underwater while snorkeling, scuba diving, or more frequently freediving. Spearfishing while scuba diving, or with the assistance of any breathing apparatus, is usually frowned upon, even forbidden in some areas, like Malta for instance.

Spearfishing will vary depending on the location, the type of target fish, and the spearfishing equipment used. Coastal spearfishing is probably the most common form of spearfishing, but one can also access locations inaccessible by land, off-shore reefs, or pinnacles by boat or kayak. Another types of spearfishing like blue water is done in deep waters far away from the shore.

Is Spearfishing eco-friendly?

Industrial fishing has disastrous consequences on the environment: overfishing, destruction of habitat, ghost fishing, and by-catch, to name a few. Spearfishing is the most ecologically sustainable fishing method for two main reasons: 1. Spearfishing is selective in terms of species, size, and quantity 2. Spearfishing has a limited impact since there is no by-catch nor bait, minimal gear loss, and no harm to the environment.

This being said, spearfishing can only be sustainable if spearfishers themselves are sustainable. Spearfishermen are to be aware of the fragility of the marine ecosystem and the ocean in general. As such, spearos are to follow spearfishing ethics for spearfishing to be sustainable. Some of the guidelines to follow are:

• Do not overfish, and shoot what you plan to eat only
• Target the right fish in terms of species and size
• Do not catch protected or endangered species
• Restrain from spear fishing large females
• Treat your catch with respect and avoid suffering
• Respect marine ecosystems and your surroundings
• Follow Fishing Bans and Regulations

The founder of Apnea Total Malta discovered freediving through spearfishing, so it is only natural that we offer both underwater activities. Our goal is to introduce our freedivers to sustainable spearfishing as well as to strengthen the knowledge of spearfishers in terms of techniques and safety.