The Staff of the newspaper are to be congratulated for having the courage to print an article bringing into question some aspects of the much-vaunted Kubota billfishing contest. Although the contest brings much money into parts of the community’s welcoming coffers, the reason it uses (pardon the pun) has many fishhooks.
Firstly, in the absence of sails, the oh-so-many boats that motored out were all using large amounts of climate-change fossil fuels.
Also include the large vehicles towing trailers, many for a longtime distance. All this because of the lure of big cash. Perhaps a rich person’s activity while we have many children in poverty.
Secondly, there is the continual harvesting of fish from an exploited source (mostly over fishing commercially) that we all know is diminishing. We need to limit humanity’s take before the ability of species to reproduce has gone. We cannot count on those who make a living from catching fish to regulate themselves as humanity is naturally greedy and wasteful.
Thirdly, it seems to me that digging a metal hook into the side of a fishes face and dragging it until it is within the fishermen’s reach – so exhausted, qualifies as the equivalent of a farmer being brutal to his stock.
Fourthly, if humans need to pit themselves against these great and beautiful fish for their ego, how about meeting them in their own water medium? Kubota, maybe there is some other worthwhile outlet for your philanthropy.
