Hi Magman,

I realise it. But the heading screams a campaign to organise and initiate a mass slaughter of GWS's. At least, this is what some bunny hugger will read. They're not interested in the contents.

We are a target and any info/actions gets blown out of proportion.

e.g. some retard last year shot a Potato Bass off Widenham. He wasn't even what I would class a doppie. Just some idiot with a Checkers mask and fins, rugby jersey and Sportsmans warehouse gun who thought he got a good fish.

The amount of e-mails I had from MCM and ORI and other parties villifying spearos even calling for the total ban of spearing in the MPA was huge. I replied that the hullabaloo was akin to banning driving because one drunk idiot caused an accident.

While we're on the topic of Potato's and Brindles, the KZN divers decided in the 60's/70's to institute a "gentleman's agreement to not shoot these. Partly because they were as dumb as mud and really easy to shoot and also because seasoned divers were tired of novices acting like they were experts after shooting a big Bass. THey also realised that the fish were going to wiped out. When authorities eventually got wind of this they enacted legislation completely banning the capture of the Bass's. They reasoned that spearos were blasting these fish into extinction and something drstic had to be done to save the species. Even though spearos were the first group to actively initiate conservation methods for fish we were still villified.

We now have a situation where the Potato fish numbers are so high that they have taken over reefs and are almost more of a menace than sharks. In fact, I have lost more fish to Potato's in the last 5 years than sharks.

I hear you Corrie and understand your concerns in protecting the reputation of the sport, but...

If this post gets deleted, this forum's administrators do not believe in the freedom of speech. No crimes have been committed here.

1. we are all adults expressing our rights to debate any topic under the sun like adults
2. I agree with your notion that the bunny huggers are out to crucify anyone perceived to be 'killing' animals for sport or sustenance, but you will never please anybody all the time, and you cannot be held responsible for the actions of others if you act honorably, and there will always be a few bad apples in every dimension of human life
3. I work in the Green Movement {alternative energy} and let me tell you, this political philosophy is a load of crap! There are figureheads in this movement who are calling for the culling of children below 3 years old as they cannot be seen as human {similar to aborting a fetus} and who would like to kill 90% of the human population on earth {like big ears Prince Charles and Prince Philip} to save the earth and all the animals. The green movement is backed and funded by Big Oil {surprise!} and is a fascist organization - like the Nazis {do your research if you don't believe me, I have}
4. we are not {yet} living in a police state where you are guilty of thought crimes for asking certain questions that the invested powers that be don't like {MCM can't stop the raping of our coastline by perly poachers who smuggle drugs and prostitutes, but they piss their panties when real men kill some fish for their table}
5. each man has a God given RIGHT to fish in the sea without asking anyone for permission. When you buy your fishing permit, you give up these rights and come under the authority of the state and they retain their rights to restrict your freedoms
6. no governing authority has authority over you without your consent and if you gave consent previously you have the right to change your mind

We should in no way act like victims. You have rights, learn what they are and stand up for them.

Hi Doringdraad
Can I buy you a beer sometime and sommer give you some Karma?

J

he he, beloftes maak skuld, ek drink black label!

Guys,

I must agree with Corrie - could we at least change the title of the thread?

The GW issue is far greater than we know (that includes the scientists!). There are so many variables at play and the risk of targetting only one will affect all the others. That there is need for control, there is no doubt: the question is control what?

Here's one which is definitely left of centre: we should actually be limiting the fishing for sardines, anchovies etc. These are the primary protein base (they convert algae, plancton etc into protein). If you harvest the cr*p out of these, what will tuna eat - kelp? And vegitarian seals and penguins - now that would be interesting.

From my simple high school biology, there were biomass pyramids. Baitfish would be used as food by small preditors (bonnies etc), which would in turn be eaten by tuna - which would then feed sharks - at each stage the mass would decrease. Now we plunder the base of the pyramid - to feed chckens!?! What happens to those creatures further up the food chain - tuna numbers plummet sharks feed of surfers etc....

Personally, I feel that the use of fish meal should be stopped immediately - protein can be derived far more efficiently via the production of yeast and algae......

The net effect would be more sharks, but their behaviour would be 'normal'