What does it mean to be a waterman? I have been hearing this word a lot lately, in part because of the passing of a great waterman, Dusty Peak. I have also been hearing this word in reference to his son, Skylar Peak. Skylar is a very close friend and has taught me, my husband and both our young boys how to surf. He has also taken my boys fishing, my husband spear fishing and we have spent countless hours in the ocean with him as he imparts his knowledge to us about the ways of the sea. The other day another young man, Leo, was talking about Skylar. He was saying what a great waterman he was and how he saw him catch two lobsters and a halibut in one free dive. How Skylar can sit and watch a school of fish, spot the weak one and catch it with ease. He admired these skills and shared that they were passed on to him by his father, Dusty.
One of the most important things that Skylar has passed on to my young boys is having respect for the ocean. He has taught them how to watch the sets, how to dive under the waves and countless other skills that a good waterman needs to know. It makes my day at the beach a million times more relaxed knowing my children have been taught how to respect the ocean and enjoy it at the same time.
When I was at a meeting for the Marine Life Protection Act on Point Dume last month, I sat next to Dusty Peak. I was so interested in what he had to say as a respected elder of the community and a well known waterman. I was surprised that he was so supportive of making Point Dume a protected marine preserve. I listened to his recounts of what the waters were like in days past on the Point and how much things have changed. He really made it clear to me that part of being a good waterman is not just having the skills to fish but also being a good guardian and steward of the ocean. It was now our responsibility to protect the ocean so our future generations would also be able to enjoy all it has to offer.
I now have a greater understanding of what it means to be a waterman, or in my case, a waterwoman. I love our beach here at Point Dume and love all the recreation that it offers our family. I am willing to give up the ability to fish from our “backyard” for the ability to know that we are providing a safe place for fish to spawn and grow. This is why I also support the MLPA. I want to know that when I walk on the beach at Point Dume, I can look out and know that we are doing all we can to protect the ocean for our future generations.
Tamra Davis