Survey Results

I posted a survey to NZ Spearo Forum to ask fellow spearos what they think about where the sport is going in New Zealand. I got just under 100 replies and some very good insight into other Spearos thinking. NZ Spearo Forum has 2,841 members. This shows me that I only got replies from 3% of the whole forum.

Q1 
Gender:
Male-93
Female-2

This shows that Spearfishing is dominantly a Male sport. With only 2% of replies coming from female Spearos. 

Q2 
How many years have you been diving for?:
1-3: 36 38%
4-6: 26 27%
6-9: 13 14%
10+: 20 21%

People who completed my survey are mainly beginner spearos. Maybe not providing me with the best information.

Q3
Which website do you use to check conditions?
Metservice: 32
Nz Spearo Forum: 15
Beacon Hill: 2
Island Bay Divers: 6
Marine Weather: 9
Swell Map: 31
Victoria University Coastal Ecology Labs: 3

Met service seems to be the most trusted site for weather forecasts and reports.

Q4
Do you think websites like metservice are accurate for conditions and forecasts?
Yes: 6
No: 34

64% of Spearos do believe weather reports sites are accurate.

Q5
Would you go out if the forecast was 50/50 (good/bad)
Yes: 67
No: 28

Q6
Would you go out if someone said it was good but the forecast suggested otherwise?
55% of replies said that they would go out. But go and check it out for themselves before they actually got in the water. For those who said they wouldn't said that they will just go with a websites report to make their decision.

Q7
Do you use a smart phone?
Yes: 92
No: 3

Only 3% of forum repliers don't use a smart phone, this is a low percentage of users. Meaning i could design something like a phone app or something online.

Q8
Do you use any spearfishing apps?
Few new ones were named that i was unaware of. Will be checking these new apps out and seeing what their function is.

Q9
Would you let other local spearos know where good fishing is on a daily basis?
Yes: 36
No: 15
Maybe: 42

44% of replies were Maybe this tells me that people are still on the fence about sharing their favoured fishing spots. Some fisherman can even sell there GPS locations of successful fishing areas for thousands of dollars. This could be the reason why Spearos are so hesitant.

Q10
Who offers you the best advice on spearing in general?
Replies mainly were from family members/mates/other spearos/magazines/Facebook Forums

Q11
What is something you would like to see in your local spearfishing community?
Popular answers were as follow:
More information on sustainability through posters and signage at popular fishing spots.
A decreased bag limit e.g.from 20 to 10
A Spearo Club
Stop to poaching
More competitions
A spot finder for Spearos
Mentors for beginners
A buddy system

More awareness around safety like dive flags/dive buddies/gun safety

Safer boating week like a spearing safety week, first weekend of spring.

EPIRBs given out at a cheaper rate when you buy spearing equipment.

Competitions that involove charity through auctioning.

No one is keen on sharing good fishing spots

More marine reserves

Q12
Who is your dive partner?
Friend or Family was the most common answer

Q13
What is your profession?
Student: 20
Fulltime worker: 75

78% of replies are from full timers meaning it is from a older possibly more mature minded audience.

Q14
What is something that could help raise awareness for the sport?
From this question responses i got was that people were not all that keen to get more people into the sport, so then not as many people will be in the water. Helping to sustain fish population etc. However Spearos said that they would be keener to see more things to do with educating the public on conservation and sustaining marine life. Mainly through media and tv.