Recfishwest Policy
Taking Fish by Free Diving

Introduction.

This policy provides Recfishwest's approach to the taking of fish by free diving, which is taking fish by hand, loop, snare or spear without the assistance of compressed air.

Taking fish by compressed air assisted diving is covered in a separate Recfishwest "Policy on Compressed Air Spearfishing" at http://www.recfishwest.org.au/PolicyCompressedAirSpear.htm

Policy.

Recfishwest supports taking of fish by free diving, up to the recreational bag limits, as a legitimate form of recreational fishing in all situations where other means of recreational take of those species are permitted.

Recreational bag limits are set considering sustainability. There are some restrictions on recreational fishing in some areas under Fisheries rules and in some zones in Marine Parks.
Taking fish by free diving should be permitted unless there are substantiated sustainability concerns about that method for particular species and/or in particular places.

Those concerns should be handled by specific, focussed fisheries management controls which limit the number of fish of those species which can be taken using those methods in specific places or specific situations. Where justified, that limit may be zero take.

Such sustainability concerns should not be used as justification for total bans over other large areas where the concerns have not been substantiated, or total bans on taking all species by free diving, unless those total bans also apply to all recreational fishing methods.

Recfishwest considers that free diving has inherent limits on access to fish through physiological limits on the durations of dives and access limitations due to safety. These limits provide refuges at depths and in locations which cannot safely be accessed by free divers.

Any safety concerns about the taking fish by free diving should address those specific safety concerns, but not by total bans on some means of taking fish by free diving.

Where the recreational take of fish in some areas is restricted to a specific class of fish and recreational line fishing method, then the equivalent free diving method for taking that specific class of fish should be permitted. As an example, in "benthic protection" areas where anchoring is prohibited and trolling for pelagic species is permitted, free diving for pelagic species (without anchoring) should also be permitted.

Appendix 1.

Australian Underwater Federation Code of Conduct

This code of conduct applies to all members of the Australian Underwater Federation. It is intended to discourage certain types of unacceptable behaviour which may discredit the A.U.F. and the sport of Spearfishing. Serious cases, such as members willingly engaged in illegal activities, may result in penalties including expulsion from the A.U.F.

• Consider the safety of yourself and other people at all times.
• Know and at all times practice the A.U.F. Safety Rules and Hints.
• Respect our marine life by never taking more game than for your immediate personal needs.
• Know and at all times obey boating regulations, including:
  - carrying required safety equipment
  - navigating safely at all times
• Know and at all times obey Fisheries regulations including:
  - size limits for certain species
  - bag limits for certain species
  - bans on the taking of protected species
  - ban on the sale of fish by amateur fishermen
  - closure of certain areas to spearfishing
• Guard our seas from law-breakers by reporting suspicious or illegal activity to the proper authorities.
• Always co-operate with regulatory authority officers performing their duty.
• Show consideration towards other water users pursuing their own recreation.
• Clean your catch at a designated cleaning area or away from the general public.
• Whenever you go diving, never leave your rubbish behind.
• Never act in a way which results in public disfavour towards our sport or our organisation.

(Extracted from http://www.auf.com.au/PDF%20Files/CODECOND_.pdf)


This page last updated May 2006.