These fish just sit there. What would be really effective is some sort of vacuum hose that cycles through a backpack. You could probably pick up hundreds in a hour.
Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
121–130 of 136 posts
Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#122Earlier quoted context omitted.
Spearfishing is one of the most exciting and engaging sports I can think of. I’m not much for scuba, but spearing on a breath is pretty incredible. I’ve continued free diving but I don’t kill fish anymore for personal reasons. Regardless, I strongly encourage anyone interested to try it. Of all the ways to get a meal, getting in the water and selecting the ideal catch is the best I’ve ever known. Just like the articl…
I got into spear fishing last summer. It's an amazing sport/pastime. And if you buy fish from a shop normally, then spearing them instead has no negative environmental consequences, and avoids any bycatch. Just swim out from the shore instead of diving from your diesel-chugging boat.
Totally. That was part of what drew me into the sport. I learned that the fishing industry kills close to a trillion animals per year, globally. I couldn’t wrap my head around that.
It seems like many marine animals are probably sentient. The idea of causing so much destruction on its own is concerning, but to do that to creatures who experience pain and suffering seems gratuitously and absurdly immoral.
Selective harvest is not only incredibly important for the health of the ocean, it seems like the morally correct solution as well.
Of course not all of us have the time, opportunity, or physical ability to selectively harvest. I think those of us that do should seriously consider it though... People would realize how polluted and depleted so many essential populations are, see the trash inside the ocean, hear the excessive boat traffic, etc. They would also see all of the incredible parts too, though. Nothing makes you realize how beautiful and important the oceans are better than getting inside and being a part of them.
I guess it’s similar to terrestrial hunting. It can give you and immense love and appreciation for the environment you’re depending on.
Just curious, where are you diving? I’m in BC, Canada. I’ve always been a little envious of people in warmer, clearer waters.
Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
Culling is not the issue. The passion is. You don't need to be any of the things you mentioned to understand the problem with killing for entertainment.
Look. Tend a garden. You too will soon realize it's all a part of doing what comes naturally. Nature, as it turns out, laughs in the face of anything unwilling to speak the language of death.
Sorry, you have trouble reading. Death is not the issue.
Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#124Can we do similar like we did wit regard to mosquitos where we capture a bunch, crisper the dna so offspring is infertile, and introduce a big batch back in to spread the gene?
I've always wondered how this is supposed to work. It seems like it would cause a drop in the population for the 2nd generation, but then the population would bounce back afterwards because the gene edited mosquitos would have died off. Is the plan to continuously release them into the wild to persist the number of offspring being born that can't produce offspring?
Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#125There is a damn good comedy about it:
Killing It (2022)
Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#126Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you think about this in consequentialist terms poachers are far worse in every respect. I'm a pacifist, a vegetarian, and an ecologist. I am glad the hogs are getting culled, that's a valuable outcome. I don't care if the people who cull the hogs enjoy it. I wouldn't, I'm glad someone does, they're doing something with a good outcome, even if you think their motivations are unsavory.
Culling is not the issue. The passion is. You don't need to be any of the things you mentioned to understand the problem with killing for entertainment.
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Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#127The whole concept of "invasive species" makes me a bit uncomfortable. For one thing, preserving the purity of a local ecosystem is not the same thing as preserving the purity of your local human race, but it's not entirely different either. Also, an the world becomes more and more connected, it's a battle doomed to be lost. And those battles, as much as we might wish otherwise, should not be fought. Also, the idea th…
I agree with your arguments when it comes to "preserving the purity of your local human race" or culture - it's essentially impossible to stop those shifts. However I don't think it applies the same way to invasive species - people and their ideas are very hard to filter for in terms of immigration but stopping people from bringing in animals or plants is much easier and we have systems for that already in place.
Depends on the size of the animal.
The invasive hippos in Colombia (yes, it's real) can easily be exterminated anytime the Colombians want.
But I don't think there is any chance of removing the House Sparrow from America.
Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#128The whole concept of "invasive species" makes me a bit uncomfortable. For one thing, preserving the purity of a local ecosystem is not the same thing as preserving the purity of your local human race, but it's not entirely different either. Also, an the world becomes more and more connected, it's a battle doomed to be lost. And those battles, as much as we might wish otherwise, should not be fought. Also, the idea th…
> the idea that new species "destroy" ecosystems is really flawed. it's not. If a species were to naturally migrate, it takes decades, or even centuries, to cross continents. This gives the destination ecosystem time to adjust. But because humans travel so fast, and so far, migration of species piggybacking reach previously unreachable ecosystems without letting the natural balance to actually happen - therefore, des…
> This gives the destination ecosystem time to adjust
You're right that it takes some time for an ecosystem to adapt. But whether a new species is introduced slowly or quickly, the end result will be the same.
I think it's mostly human society that needs the time to adjust. If a cute species disappears in their lifetime, many people will be upset. The next generation won't know what they missed.
Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#129Earlier quoted context omitted.
I got into spear fishing last summer. It's an amazing sport/pastime. And if you buy fish from a shop normally, then spearing them instead has no negative environmental consequences, and avoids any bycatch. Just swim out from the shore instead of diving from your diesel-chugging boat.
Totally. That was part of what drew me into the sport. I learned that the fishing industry kills close to a trillion animals per year, globally. I couldn’t wrap my head around that. It seems like many marine animals are probably sentient. The idea of causing so much destruction on its own is concerning, but to do that to creatures who experience pain and suffering seems gratuitously and absurdly immoral. Selective ha…
Yep agreed!
I'm on the Tutukaka coast in Northland NZ. It's an amazing coast for diving, I'm slowly snorkeling my way around the coast where we live, one bit at a time. Here's a typical scene from my GoPro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wkLZKiPewc.
That is just off shore so it's pretty quiet for fish, though there are usually a few Blue MaoMao which are good eating and have no limit as they are plentiful. On the Poor Knights marine reserve a few miles offshore, the fish are a lot thicker https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155868863065128!
Re: Killing invasive species is now a competitive sport
#130The whole concept of "invasive species" makes me a bit uncomfortable. For one thing, preserving the purity of a local ecosystem is not the same thing as preserving the purity of your local human race, but it's not entirely different either. Also, an the world becomes more and more connected, it's a battle doomed to be lost. And those battles, as much as we might wish otherwise, should not be fought. Also, the idea th…
> For one thing, preserving the purity of a local ecosystem is not the same thing as preserving the purity of your local human race, but it's not entirely different either. It is entirely different. We are all the same species. Race is a social construct, and unlike foreign species introduction, the introduction of a wider genetic or cultural pool does not cause an ecosystem collapse. > Also, the idea that new specie…
> ...the introduction of a wider genetic or cultural pool does not cause an ecosystem collapse.
Here is my point: What exactly do you mean by "an ecosystem collapse"?
There are hundreds of invasive species only here in the US. No part of the country is untouched. Have all the US ecosystems collapsed? Have any?