It is a fact that divers like to see fish when they dive!

It is a fact that divers like to see fish when they dive!
Scuba Diving Malta

It is a fact that divers like to see fish when they dive. It is also a fact that where you find fish and divers you will usually find fishermen.

It has long since been known that there have been conflicts around the world between these two groups. It is usually divers cutting nets at dive sites, unfortunately that only fuels the argument for the fishermen.

So what do we do?

I think it is important that as long as the fishermen are fishing using legal and moral methods they should be able to continue to carry out their ‘activity’.

But what are cost to the divers I hear you ask.

Well the lines of communication should be opened between the dive operators and the people who fish. Why? Because it is important for the dive operators to help educate the fishermen about the dangers of laying nets at dive sites or even around divers in the water.

So what could we as divers and dive operators learn from the fishermen?

Well quite alot if you think about it.

Good fishermen will know and should know the migration patterns of different species of fish as it would be pointless them fishing the place for one species in June for example and that species will not be there until October. How can this help us as divers? Easy when we are diving certain sites this information could be used in our briefings. ie what fish we are likely to see and why we will see them.

Another reason for the two groups talking is MARINE PARKS!

This is important as it is no good for the divers saying this place needs to be a marine park, and that place need to be a no take zone as this again will fuel the argument for the fishermen. We as divers have to be careful as to not put the fishermen’s livelihood at risk!

You can’t have it both ways I hear you say. No unfortunately nobody can. But with careful planning and talking to each other, a happy medium should be and can be achievable. It has happened in so many places around the globe. It will take some time but as long as each group tries not to be to selfish it can be done.