Spearfishing

Spearfishing is the practice of fishing using handheld, sharp-pointed elongated tools such as spears, gigs, harpoons and tridents. It was one of the earliest fishing techniques used by mankind, and has been deployed in artisanal fishing throughout the world for millennia. Early hunter-gatherer societies were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks. Modern spearfishing usually involves the use of underwater swimming gear and slingshot-like elastic or compressed gas-powered pneumatic spearguns, which shoot out a tethered dart-like projectile to strike fish and other aquatic animals such as squids and lobster. Over the years, specialized techniques and equipment have been developed for various types of aquatic environments and target fish. Spearfishing uses no bait and is highly selective, with no bycatch, but inflicts lethal injury to the target animal and thus precludes catch and release. Spearfishing may be done using free-diving, snorkelling, or scuba diving techniques, but spearfishing while using scuba equipment is illegal in some countries. The use of mechanically powered spearguns is also outlawed in some countries and jurisdictions such as New Zealand.