We thought it would get a big reaction, and it did. More power to those taking a balanced, reasoned, logical view. As a spearfishing enthusiast with 35 years' experience, my answer is that there is nothing wrong with spearfishing, and that taking a fish with a spear is more humane and selective than most other catching methods, provided it is carried out safely and responsibly.
Safety catches are unreliable and misfires can occur.
I witnessed some of the excesses and vowed to remain a lone hunter. The only difference between me shooting fish with my speargun while free-diving, and the average scuba diver stabbing flatties with his knife or cramming shellfish into his bag, is the degree of difficulty involved. I need breath-holding, stalking and marksmanship skills to catch my wary, darting quarry. I know from many years in the BSAC that the majority of divers take home something for the pot, and that this practice is rarely frowned upon. When aqualung-toting divers hit the seabed it's open season on anything that goes well with a bottle of Chablis.