New Zealand Spearfishing Nationals 2023 // My Last Year Competing

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย. 2023
  • Paihia hosts the Nationals this year! The Cavalli islands and Cape Brett feature incredible underwater treasures, we have the privilege of diving these legendary spots.
    This video provides information regarding differences between recreational and competitive spearfishing. What it takes to do well in a competition and where competitions belong in a sustainable future for the Oceans.
    Huge thank you to my dive buddy (Elena), our skipper (Hagan), organization and everybody involved. Spearfishing attracts many different people and even though we may disagree on some things it's important to always be respectful of people's opinions. We all share an appreciation for the ocean even though it may differ, these differences are strengths.
    I will never claim to be a perfect objective source of information but these thoughts that I offer are my contribution. I encourage you to take consideration in what you involve yourself in and think about how your actions effect the world around you.
    I attended a spearfishing competition so it would be unreasonable to sulk about a few fish. But the competition director made a point to encourage competitors in shooting other fish to burley them up! The size of the competition areas and the stunning locations did not justify this endorsement.
    On the first day of the Open division over 250kg of fish were weighed. Significantly more than previous years I have competed in. It didn't feel right contributing to what I knew was going to be a blood bath.
    The event can be great fun, also serving as selection for our national team, but the cost of our competitions and ambitions are without exaggeration, the lives and bodies of marine animals.
    Are fish being sacrificed to ego?
    Is death what you shall deal in pursuit of your aspirations?
    Mother Nature pays the bill ultimately, as always and forever.
    I think that it would be wise to try and at least manage the environmental impact. A different fish list for teams competing in A and B divisions would save a lot of fish. All of the top teams are going to tick off many of the same easy species, so it does little to differentiate them in terms of skill. There should be a person on the committee of spearfishing new Zealand dedicated to environmental assessment of competitions and reviewing rules from an ecological perspective.
    You can learn a lot at competitions but please be considerate and don't let your competitive instincts lead to the unjustified death of innocent creatures.
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ความคิดเห็น • 32

  • @nikoi9150
    @nikoi9150 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    i couldn’t agree with what you are saying more. need more spearos like you

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you Nikoi! I make these videos to try and get more people engaged with messages can be boring, admittedly. Talking about sustainability has less appeal to most people than shooting fish. Plenty of content like that out there so little point in the bigger picture. I hope to bring important issues to light while still engaging with people.

  • @BlissfulshadowXD
    @BlissfulshadowXD ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Hey bro awesome vid. I'm a diver on Stewart Island and while I know a lot of people who share your values, it's definitely disheartening seeing how many even down here have almost no sympathy for the ocean. Spearfishing is a special thing and it's up to us to make sure future generations get to experience it too. Keep up the good work.

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Cheers B1155FU15HAD0WXD! I am often taken back by some people's disregard for sustainably, but I don't think it comes from a bad place usually. I believe that everybody has the capacity to care, deeply. But this often repressed. Educating people to the reality and possible futures for our oceans would open the hearts of most.
      To see the beauty of our natural world and understand the fragility. To see the planet dying and live in its steady decline. I don't think you can be conscious of this and not want to aim for positive change.
      It's an uncomfortable reality, for a long time I wanted to believe it was all goods and I could kill as many fish as I liked. It's not like that unfortunately.
      We can't resent people for not sharing our world view. If somebody is indifferent to conservation it is likely due to misinformation or lack, they're of. The people who have no sympathy for the ocean are also those who would benefit most from the expanded consciousness that environmental aware ness lets you tap into!
      I want people who hate sustainably and enjoy killing fish to watch these videos.

  • @KiwiKaimoana
    @KiwiKaimoana ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I must say this video is not a surprise and I admire you for taking a stance on how berleying wastes fish. I saw the leaderboard on Facebook and saw you were on zero and instantly I realized that something is up. Oscar doesn't go into a spearfishing comp and on day 1 have a score of 0 unless something else is going on. Wasn't sure what it was but I figured you'd have a good reason.

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks KiwiKaimoana, I got a few "?" when the scores went up. Fish burley is so sad to see, I have little sympathy when the sharks turn up in those situations. I'll take filleted fish frames out occasionally and dive them, but killing fish for this purpose exclusively, bad karma.

  • @dirty_diver
    @dirty_diver ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I feel the same way about spearfishing! Starting from my love of ocean. Also, my list of fish I would like to spear includes pink and blue maomao - it sounds sustainable and they look delicious .. and Ive never seen them. Hawaii just had a comp JUST for invasive species. I think is a great idea.

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Mao mao species are good options to target in terms of sustainability, they also taste excellent! I saw Ryan’s video of said competition, very good idea. Fortunately for us in nz an invasive species comp wouldn’t be much more than exotic seaweeds and long spine Kina

    • @dirty_diver
      @dirty_diver ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@BlueNeoprene He (Ryan Myers) didn’t mention, but Kimmi entered and won something! Im such a fan of hers.

  • @keriboi
    @keriboi ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Hey dont discount those fish! I bought 10 kohies at the fish auction and used them for bait the following day to go out and catch a 20lb snapper. I got a lifetime fish, you guys went diving and competed with the best and the local fire brigade got funding from my donation.

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey Keriboy, thats a cool story. I am stoked for you!
      You benefited from this event, so did the fire brigade and basically everybody else involved. But the environment and mother nature pay the price ultimately. I will not deny the positivity it brought to many people, but they have their own voices. I am here to try and speak on the behalf of our natural world, which certainly did not benefit from the event.

    • @keriboi
      @keriboi ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@BlueNeoprene its called Sustainability. Everyone was hugely within their limits of take. The Bay of Islands charter fleet would take more snapper daily that what that whole comp took over two days. Its an annual event. Need to look at the bigger picture.

  • @Ffn23
    @Ffn23 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Tripper

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Life is a trip my g

  • @hemirizvi6585
    @hemirizvi6585 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Alot more sustainable than commercial fishing even recreational fishing (long lines, trawling, kontikis, drag netting) don't be so hard on yourself. You obviously love the sea and the life that calls it home, I respect your spiritual and intellectual connection with the ocean but at the end of the day it's the most sustainable way of fishing and your not disrespecting the place you are so fond of by letting yourself stray from your conservative beliefs for 1-2 days to show your full abilities. Much love brother and I love your take on the Moana all of us kiwis are so deeply connected to. 🎉

    • @hemirizvi6585
      @hemirizvi6585 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Ps I can't fault you for your view of burleying illegal fish

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hey Hemirizvi, thanks for the support. I used to desire the ability to show off, but it doesn't feel right to me in this context anymore. I don't want the reputation of a killer; I want to save the fish! My past achievements at nationals, I felt pride at the time. But now they symbolize to me the diving I am probably least proud of. My diving performances at nationals have been riddled with mistakes and arguably characterized by greed. The mindset of competition is not productive for the calm, methodical and patient style I try dive. That may be my own fault, but for me I don't think it's worth competing. Either I retain my values or indulge in a competitive mindset that will probably haunt me. 1-2 days is too long for me to ignore the way I truly think and feel!

  • @bomblifenewzealand
    @bomblifenewzealand 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Respect to you for your view on that topic. Values are important. You stand out amongst those idiots who dont respect kai moana. you got my sub

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Chur my bro, stoked to have you here! I have been finding motivation for TH-cam hard to come by recently. Your comment helps, I need to remember that I don’t do this for myself for for others and our world.

    • @bomblifenewzealand
      @bomblifenewzealand 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@BlueNeoprene always keen to come for a dive with you and learn some new things. Let us know bruv

  • @hemirizvi6585
    @hemirizvi6585 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Also your outlook on nationals completely flipped itself from last year lol you were literally saying the complete opposite. Can i ask what happened over the last year for your view and beliefs to completely do a 180?

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      For starters the conditions were completely different. This year was heading out to epic spots on epic days, while the previous year was challenging spots on challenging days. Right from the start it was clear that a lot more fish would be killed. However, the most seemed to relish the opportunity, excited to kill as many fish as possible.
      I have spent time reflecting on the way I conduct myself with the growth of Blue Neoprene. And have come to the realization that I do not want to promote anything that I wouldn't want to see other people doing.
      I don't believe that it is fair to say my views and beliefs changed a whole 180. Both events can be judged from the same perspective and obvious differences found between the two. If this year's event happened a year earlier, I think I would feel the same way.
      Nowadays I am harder on myself and more resolute in my beliefs, but they are not new ones.
      I want to be a servant of mother nature, but I cannot do that while inspiring death.
      Humans are monkey see; monkey do. The more you do something the more likely others are to follow suit. If everyone dived like they were in Nationals or another Competiton, there would be less fish and more deaths. I don't want to encourage this, and I don't really want to be a part of it myself.
      Not to say "DONT DO COMPS" but personally it's not for me anymore, but I could always tell. The burleying speech was the final nail for me and I never want to ever be associated with such acts.
      In competing you are both condoning and associating yourself with the event. I don't think events of spearfishing NZ do much to help our environment (except catfish cull).
      I am in constant competition with myself and don't feel the need to measure against others. I don't need to be the best, I just want to keep improving.

  • @rvierra7235
    @rvierra7235 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Dude, if you dont like the competition format, then fine. But to continue to harp on the matter serves no purpose. Just here to watch some spearfishing, not start a political movement.

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I’m glad you found this video. There is often more to be gained from listening to those who disagree, rather than agree!
      I state the aim within the first minute but if you want to overlook that I will reiterate. The aim is to help people make an informed decision regarding their own participation. A lot of people have never competed and are curious of what it’s like. Beyond that the purpose is to show the somewhat ugly truth about competitions.
      Watch it with the sound off, or watch something else if you don’t like to hear differing opinions. But I think you, in particular, would benefit from trying different thoughts. Much love my Dude 🌊💙

  • @mattgreenaway4091
    @mattgreenaway4091 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Cringe much 😂😂

    • @Senates
      @Senates ปีที่แล้ว +1

      how?

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for the comment, hope you enjoyed xo

  • @mariobertora
    @mariobertora 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I had bad experiences of compo spearfishing here in NZ and Italy. Left the competitions (Never taken too seriously anyway) due to persisting plague of cheaters !!!!!!

    • @BlueNeoprene
      @BlueNeoprene  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      So, you're telling me that fish don't naturally eat lead weights? lol. I think a big part of spearfishing is freedom and much is lost in competitions.