Too bad - saw the same octupus or perhaps the one already in the collection bag on two prior snorkel trips. The hunter was rather deft, I will give him that, as well as brazen given the clear no fishing signage and no fishing zone.

I went through some effort trying to go through official channels to get intervention, to no apparent effect, although at last sight, a lady was engaged in debate with the man in the local language about his actions - perhaps that is the best outcome one could hope for.

I saw the same thing in May of this year while staying at 64 A J Abraham Blvd.
What I took to be a local snorkeler was making his way along the shore in not much more than knee deep water catching and killing prey, mostly small octopus.
He was quite good at it, putting the catch in the palm of his hand and hitting it with his fist several times before bagging it.
It's hard for me to fault a man for catching and killing his own food.

greg

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I went through some effort trying to go through official channels to get intervention, to no apparent effect, although at last sight, a lady was engaged in debate with the man in the local language about his actions - perhaps that is the best outcome one could hope for.

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The local fishermen who keep the reefs clean of grouper are just 'catching and killing (their) own food' (we don't know if the many octopus taken are 'for his own food') right???

Both have the same effect of denuding the reefs near town where they can be fished. History to date has shown that there are two choices: no 'locals' fishing and vibrant reefs or fishing and severely reduced fish (and octopus!) populations.

Bonaire's choice. IMO a bad one to date.

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Bonaire has clearly changed how it is running the island while some locals and most tourists still think of it as a leader in environmental action. How long before the dive magazines take notice?

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As I was once told by an editor of Skin Diver Magazine and we all have seen, magazines never print bad things about a product, a company or a destination: that would be bad for advertising revenue, their reason for existence. The worst they ever do is not publish anything about 'bad'.

So don't hang by your thumbs waiting for the print media (dive or travel!) to 'take notice'. Any more than they have about any aspect of the conditions of the reefs.

quote..
[The local fishermen who keep the reefs clean of grouper are just 'catching and killing (their) own food' (we don't know if the many octopus taken are 'for his own food') right???]

Let's NOT forget about the tourist/restaurant patron who orders grouper when they dine out. If there is no demand, the restaurants will not serve it. That simple. Just don't do it.

[Let's NOT forget about the tourist/restaurant patron who orders grouper when they dine out. If there is no demand, the restaurants will not serve it. That simple. Just don't do it.]

I suspect enough fresh caught reef fish are eaten by resident Bonairians that a total boycott by visitors will not end the fishing. An enforced ban is needed. Best to kill the root of the weed rather than just cutting off a few of the leaves and hoping the plant dies.