In the early 80s, I remember my father and his friends brought home big reef fish catches – including parrot fish, oriental sweet lips, hump back snappers, groupers, blue chub fish, etc. They used a sharpened two-and-half iron rod of around 6 to 8mm thick. This iron rod is attached to a wooden pole of around seven feet in length. The pole is made of coconut palm wood that was around five to six feet in length.
In ancient days spears were made out of wood, pointed sticks, sticks with barbed metal points, bone, stones and tridents. Later iron and copper were used. The metal tips were backwardly pointed serrations. It prevented fish from escaping. This fishing technique involves the use of these ‘weapons’ to impale the fish in the body. In some parts of the world spears were made by inserting thorns into the ends of reed shafts. Curved thorns or fish bones and palm leaf stem were also used.
For their survival, humans have learned and mastered the art of spearfishing; they have harpooned massive sea creatures like whales. Precise and finely crafted fishing spears were invented to capture fish with remarkable accuracy.
In Maldives, the inhabitants have also learned the skill and demonstrated the synergy between skill and the rhythm of the ocean. In Maldives poles spear, slings and iron bars are widely used to impale the fish in the body as spear guns are prohibited by law, though it is used throughout the country.
The skilled spearos catch varieties of fish using handheld elongated, sharp pointed tools including spear guns: giant trevally (GT), yellow fin tuna, mahi-mahi (dorado or dolphinfish), dogtooth tuna, sailfish, marlin, wahoo, Spanish mackerel, coral trout, grouper, red snapper, ruby snapper, emperor, job fish, jack mackerel, to red bass, rainbow runner and hump back snapper.
The skill and art of spearfishing has been practiced by many Maldivians. Among the ‘big names’ in this business is the fitness icon Muax. This great spearo, with his incredible physique and strength is a stalking leopard in the deep. At his gym, he executes techniques with exceptional speed and power. His impressive physique is built with agility, strength and explosiveness. And in the deep he unleashes precision strikes on large predators.
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His ‘weapons’ strikes precisely on one of the most powerful and fastest swimming predators including massive Giant trevallies, dog tooth and Yellowfin tunas. His sculpted muscles are developed not for “show.” His muscles translate into effective and useful skills in the world of spearfishing as well.
Spearfishing is one of the most sustainable ways of catching fish. Since the beginning of time, it started with sharpened wooden sticks and sharpened iron bars. Sharpened sticks and iron bars were aimed at fish that were in the river or body of water while the spearo stayed on the mouth of river, shoreline and shallow waters. Now fins, masks and spear guns and other accessories are used to dive into the deep, targeting the size of your choice. It is a selective method with zero bycatch. Reefs and sea beds are intact while the stealthy spearo silently moves through the water and the healthy ecosystems are unharmed.
Maldivian law prohibits the use of speargun but fishing using rods are allowed. However, policy makers need to think about allowing the use of spearguns within a defined boundary of law and regulation that would not result in unfavorable and consequences to pave way for sustainable sport of spearfishing. It is more than a sport. It will unfold the beauty of underwater life of our country more over and attract more tourists. Introduction and mastering this skill that spearos such as Muax possess would allow many youths to engage in this great sport that could help them gain a foothold in the tourism industry.
