Hate-hate’ relationship between divers, lobstermen not true

An article was published in The Gloucester Daily Times earlier in the spring, titled that day in that paper “The lobsterman and the diver: a hate-hate relationship” in Peter K. Prybot’s column Ebb & Flow. Dodie Carvalho wrote a rebuttal to that article which was published on Monday, June 12, 2006, in the same paper. That article is reprinted here with her permission.

‘Hate-hate’ relationship between divers, lobstermen not true

My View by Dodie Carvalho

I have so enjoyed Peter Prybot’s Ebb & Flow columns. He provides our fishing communities with a great service, explaining and recording the history of our industry, sharing with the public what these men go through in all kinds of weather and conditions, and also sharing his love of the ocean.

However, the May 6 Ebb & Flow upset me. My view is different. The title, “The lobsterman and the diver: a hate-hate relationship,” in no way improves the relationship existing within this industry between commercial lobstermen and divers.

I have been diving Cape Ann’s waters for the last 32 years. All of us have seen a dramatic decline in sea life (lobster, fish, crabs, sea anemones, scallops, etc.), and feel frustrated with diminished catches and greater restrictions.

Yet I never have had a “hate” relationship with a lobsterman and never would. Mr. Prybot mentions Jin Waddell’s reference to “the two percent factor in any group that gives the rest of the group a bad name.” Most divers and lobstermen recognize most problems are caused by the two percent of “rotten apples” from whichever group is being criticized. Recognizing this and keeping open communication in all situations are the ways to keep relationships positive.

Commercial lobstermen and divers/10 potters each pay for a license, providing a substantial financial source for the Division of Marine Fisheries. The relative catch of licensed divers is minuscule compared to that of commercial lobstermen. In fact many divers I know do not focus on lobstering, but instead on photography.

I’d like to share my few, from a diver’s perspective, about several things which Prybot discussed in his article:

1. Divers can hear that there is a boat in the area when diving, but are unable to tell if it is close or far off. We try to ascertain if we are deep enough to be out of harm’s way.

2. In late summer I see a wall of buoys I’ll have to circumvent and disentangle myself from while diving. We’re interested in the same area, but I’m looking under rocks and seaweed for my prey.

3. I don’t believe divers number more than 300 on warm summer days. In late spring a few college classes may on one of the safe learning beaches, number less than 60 divers total. Seldom do I dive at any beach with more than 15 divers present at any one time, and usually with only a few. Most boats have two or three divers.

4. He mentioned that Cape Ann has “its share of local recreational and even commercial divers.” I am pleased to be one of them who has dived regularly, sometimes year round, for 32 years. I, too, pay my $40 per year to get only a few lobsters.

5. It is mentioned that “Lobstermen…(go) out of their way to help divers…” Divers, too, help lobstermen who become entangled in each other’s buoy ropes. I have cut ropes from three motors myself through the years. I’ll assure you I felt no “hate-hate relationship” between us and was pleased that I could help.

6. Mr. Prybot says “many divers have figured out pulling lobsters out of traps is much easier than yanking them out of rocky crevices.” Few divers steal from traps … a few of the “rotten apples”! Don’t denigrate the majority of honest law-abiding divers with “many.”

Mr. Prybot referred to laws, saying divers’ need to stay 25 feet from lobster buoys and clear of boats working their traps. I found no reference to this in the Marine Fisheries Abstracts, so I called them. They researched it and called back stating there was no such rule.

The Abstracts talk about display of a dive flag and then states: “Divers shall remain in an area within 100 feet of such displayed diver’s flag while at or near the surface of the water. A boat operator within sight of a diver’s flag shall proceed with caution, and within a radius of 100 feet of such flag shall proceed at a speed not to exceed 3 miles per hour.”

This is written to allow safe progress through the water by boat operators when divers are present. It does not state that we cannot be in the same area. Divers appreciate law enforcement upon anyone breaking lobstering laws. Divers don’t rob lobsters out of traps “hundreds of times during busy summer weekends,” as Mr. Prybot states.

If his intention, through this article, was to inform as opposed to inflame our relationship, he might have said that there is evidence that some divers do so. He also could have said some lobstermen have been known to rob from others’ traps. Both scenarios are examples of those “rotten apples” in every group.

In summation I know all of us feel frustration and disappointment in reduced catches, recognizing dramatic decline in sea life. Many divers have given up on getting “dinner” and focus on the photography and pleasure of the dive.

However, I am primarily an ocean hunter and always will be, in spite of my lack of “catch” on many dives. It is the pure joy of the sport (or hunt) that keeps me diving.

In my view, a disservice has been done to the relationship between divers and lobstermen. Use of the term “many” instead of “a few” acts as would “a few rotten apples” in a barrel. “Hate” will spread as long as we as citizens voice gossip, exaggerations, or untruths about what is really going on.

	Hate-hate’ relationship between divers, lobstermen not true
An article was published in The Gloucester Daily Times earlier in the spring, titled that day in that paper “The lobsterman and the diver: a hate-hate relationship” in Peter K. Prybot’s column *Ebb & Flow. Dodie Carvalho wrote a rebuttal to that article which was published on Monday, June 12, 2006, in the same paper. That article is reprinted here with her permission. ‘Hate-hate’ relationship between divers, lobstermen not true* My View by Dodie Carvalho I have so enjoyed Peter Prybot’s Ebb & Flow columns. He provides our fishing communities with a great service, explaining and recording the history of our industry, sharing with the public what these men go through in all kinds of weather and conditions, and also sharing his love of the ocean. However, the May 6 Ebb & Flow upset me. My view is different. The title, “The lobsterman and the diver: a hate-hate relationship,” in no way improves the relationship existing within this industry between commercial lobstermen and divers. I have been diving Cape Ann’s waters for the last 32 years. All of us have seen a dramatic decline in sea life (lobster, fish, crabs, sea anemones, scallops, etc.), and feel frustrated with diminished catches and greater restrictions. Yet I never have had a “hate” relationship with a lobsterman and never would. Mr. Prybot mentions Jin Waddell’s reference to “the two percent factor in any group that gives the rest of the group a bad name.” Most divers and lobstermen recognize most problems are caused by the two percent of “rotten apples” from whichever group is being criticized. Recognizing this and keeping open communication in all situations are the ways to keep relationships positive. Commercial lobstermen and divers/10 potters each pay for a license, providing a substantial financial source for the Division of Marine Fisheries. The relative catch of licensed divers is minuscule compared to that of commercial lobstermen. In fact many divers I know do not focus on lobstering, but instead on photography. I’d like to share my few, from a diver’s perspective, about several things which Prybot discussed in his article: 1. Divers can hear that there is a boat in the area when diving, but are unable to tell if it is close or far off. We try to ascertain if we are deep enough to be out of harm’s way. 2. In late summer I see a wall of buoys I’ll have to circumvent and disentangle myself from while diving. We’re interested in the same area, but I’m looking under rocks and seaweed for my prey. 3. I don’t believe divers number more than 300 on warm summer days. In late spring a few college classes may on one of the safe learning beaches, number less than 60 divers total. Seldom do I dive at any beach with more than 15 divers present at any one time, and usually with only a few. Most boats have two or three divers. 4. He mentioned that Cape Ann has “its share of local recreational and even commercial divers.” I am pleased to be one of them who has dived regularly, sometimes year round, for 32 years. I, too, pay my $40 per year to get only a few lobsters. 5. It is mentioned that “Lobstermen…(go) out of their way to help divers…” Divers, too, help lobstermen who become entangled in each other’s buoy ropes. I have cut ropes from three motors myself through the years. I’ll assure you I felt no “hate-hate relationship” between us and was pleased that I could help. 6. Mr. Prybot says “many divers have figured out pulling lobsters out of traps is much easier than yanking them out of rocky crevices.” Few divers steal from traps … a few of the “rotten apples”! Don’t denigrate the majority of honest law-abiding divers with “many.” Mr. Prybot referred to laws, saying divers’ need to stay 25 feet from lobster buoys and clear of boats working their traps. I found no reference to this in the Marine Fisheries Abstracts, so I called them. They researched it and called back stating there was no such rule. The Abstracts talk about display of a dive flag and then states: “Divers shall remain in an area within 100 feet of such displayed diver’s flag while at or near the surface of the water. A boat operator within sight of a diver’s flag shall proceed with caution, and within a radius of 100 feet of such flag shall proceed at a speed not to exceed 3 miles per hour.” This is written to allow safe progress through the water by boat operators when divers are present. It does not state that we cannot be in the same area. Divers appreciate law enforcement upon anyone breaking lobstering laws. Divers don’t rob lobsters out of traps “hundreds of times during busy summer weekends,” as Mr. Prybot states. If his intention, through this article, was to inform as opposed to inflame our relationship, he might have said that there is evidence that some divers do so. He also could have said some lobstermen have been known to rob from others’ traps. Both scenarios are examples of those “rotten apples” in every group. In summation I know all of us feel frustration and disappointment in reduced catches, recognizing dramatic decline in sea life. Many divers have given up on getting “dinner” and focus on the photography and pleasure of the dive. However, I am primarily an ocean hunter and always will be, in spite of my lack of “catch” on many dives. It is the pure joy of the sport (or hunt) that keeps me diving. In my view, a disservice has been done to the relationship between divers and lobstermen. Use of the term “many” instead of “a few” acts as would “a few rotten apples” in a barrel. “Hate” will spread as long as we as citizens voice gossip, exaggerations, or untruths about what is really going on.