I sometimes wonder these days, if the Recreational impact is just as hard on Aquatic life as Commercial once was.
Every holiday period along the coastline where I have lived, I see 'heaps' of Recreational Spearos and they all 'hammer' a number of spots heavily.
Take Currarong just north of Jervis Bay.
I remember many many years ago, as a Diver - that it was pretty well habitated by lots of fish.
But now - its an empty place.
I remember seeing a dead Kingfish, having been speared, just lying on the sandy bottom - dead.
When I was last at Currarong 2 years back, I passed x20 'groups' of Spearos (Holidayers) in regards to that spot.
Besides Chinese paying people to spear certain 'illegal' species for them, while they hang around certain 'hot spots'.
I would often see young 'kids' 10+ years old, carrying spearguns (no cork or cap on the barbed end) around and they just shoot anything and everything they can.
Basically, the shops will sell anything to anyone.
Spearfishing is an open circus. All you need is a Fishing Licence and bobs your uncle.
In New Zealand...
The Spearfishing Industry has taken a more responsible action of 'education' to all Spearos - be they pros, amateurs or just holidayers.
Basically, if some Holidayer wants to try spearfishing and buys a speargun - he/she is then forced to attend Educational Lectures, given strict guideline and advice on 'conservatism' and more. In other words - they are forced to take seriously spearfishing and think about what they are about to do.
New Zealand Spearfishing are the ones who clicked on the fact that when a place is hammered by either Spearfishing or Surface Fishing, 50% of the fish 'just leave' anyway. Seeing other fish dying, tends to stress all other fish out and they leave.
Spearos in NZ now 'rotate' areas and zone off the areas hit, to recuperate.
Australia is a lost cause when any joe-blow can buy a speargun, jump in the water and just fire away at anything, although might just bring back legal sizes. But there are many who 'shoot' not to eat - but to have 'recreational' fun.