Spearfishing
Spearfishing is one of the oldest and most popular fishing techniques. The fish is caught in rivers, streams and ponds using a spear or a sharpened stick. Today, spearfishing is considered a recreational activity in many countries and the spear has been replaced by a speargun.
The amount and type of fish caught by spearfishing depends to a great extent on the eyesight and quick reflexes of the fisherman unlike conventional fishing, where a fisherman waits for a fish to bite the bait. Immediately after the fish is sighted, the spear or speargun has to be aimed and released in the direction of the fish.
In many areas, fish are not familiar with divers, and can be easily killed by a scuba diver with a speargun. To protect the fauna of an area, especially with endangered species, spearfishing may be banned. However, unlike other forms of fishing, the damage to the environment can be minimized.