Our world and our ocean is more fragile than ever and the feeling is overcoming to us that the Covid crisis on Aruba is being politically used to push agendas that are not economically, and also not ecologically sustainable. One such agenda is the attempt to legalize spearfishing, turning it into an unregulated free for all, by ministers A. Bikker and C. Romero. Attempts are also being made to remove Aruba’s protection for endangered (marine) animals, most recently by minister A. Bikker. Because the political campaigns and a pro-spearfishing petition had already started, the goal for our community is to start a counter petition due to real concerns regarding the survival of Aruba’s ocean environments. Spearfishing is up to this date illegal by Aruba law. The main reason given by the ministers for legalization of spearfishing is that people must eat during Covid times. Such an argument takes the responsibility, of creating sustainable plans for our community, away from the government. Furthermore, it seems the attempts to legalize spearfishing has not taken into account how spearfishing will further damage our already depleted reefs and reef fish. Especially when businesses will try to turn spearfishing into a tourist attraction.

Spearfishing is illegal in Aruba since 2001 and illegal in most other countries around the world. Nonetheless, spearfishing has continued unhindered since 2001, mostly to feed Aruba's massive tourism industry (for example restaurants). Parrotfish and groupers are often caught on Aruba, even though they are species protected by local law. Parrotfish are associated with healthy coral and groupers are very endangered with hardly large groupers (ready to reproduce) left. Spearfishing can destroy the surrounding corals. There is a decline of healthy coral reefs all around the world, including Aruba. Corals in the ocean function like forests. Without it life gets really hard.

In some countries spearfishing is legal, but can only be performed by registered, well educated, and well equipped people while following laws and regulations meant to stop the destructive aspects. 

Illegal spearfishing and selling of protected Aruba species has been going on for years. Unregulated sales even occur via facebook.

Worldwide evidence based studies on spearfishing impacts are available online. Learn more on spearfishing impacts.

Read more: 

Spearfishing sustainability ​

Spearfishing impact ​

‘Landsbesluit verboden onderwaterjachtmiddelen’

As a side note to all ecological arguments, many don’t know spearfishing has a high risk on getting or causing serious (human) accidents for wich Aruba offers no insurance (because it is illegal).

This petition is made by and made for concerned nature loving citizens of Aruba in order to let their heart and knowledge speak on this matter. This petition is based on valid information about Aruba’s and worldwide marine life and situation. The petition is not an initiative from Aruba’s nature organisations, tourist organisations nor political entities.

With this petition we ask the government of Aruba to not legalize spearfishing and to keep internationally endangered Caribbean marine organisms protected under local laws.