Hey MM, it is great that we have all these different groups looking out for our Wild Salmon but what bothers me is that the largest group, namely us, the Sports Fishing Community does not organize to the point where we could be truly effective in the fight to save our Wild Salmon. I am reminded of several ads that ran in last years Times Colonist by some anonymous person or persons pointing out that the Sports Fishing Community and Wild Salmon are by far and away more important and valuable to BC than Farmed Salmon could ever be. United the Sports Fishing Community could be a very, very, powerful group both politically and financially in the fight to save our Wild Salmon.
Is there some reason why all Sports Fishermen can't unite under something akin to a union, at 400,000 strong we would have a pretty loud voice!
Would be interested in your thoughts.
MT

good question MT and the above ads are great BUT, there is no website listed and the email address is not professional. I think it boils down to our lack of voice and money. you can bet aquaculture and commies have lobbyists working hard every day on their part to get what they want. How much money do you think the fish farms spend on PR, I bet its a lot!

They are professionals and we are amateurs. Not to knock the guys that setup the halibut rally last year but I think a lot of casual observers thought we looked like greedy fishermen. If professionals were running it, they would have repeated one message over and over and over again as well as having press releases, media available for the press to use in their coverage etc. Think American politics, they don't actually talk about the issues, they just pick a talking point and hammer it over and over again until they have changed the voters opinion(hopefully).

I applaud the work that went into it but from a PR perspective I think it fell short.

Stickers, t-shirts, petitions and the like will never accomplish anything. PR, Lobbying politicians and donating to parties that pledge to save wild salmon is whats needed, but we are talking major dollars here not a few thousand. Strong working relationships with the media need to be formed, mark and stephen hume are doing great things right now for the cause.

Letter writing campaigns to the media outlets to demand coverage on the issue would be more productive then letters to the fisheries minister(its clear she doesn't agree).

If I had a million bucks toward the cause the first thing I'd do is hire a major PR firm(if not pro-bono) and a lobbying firm and have them craft a solid simple media friendly(dumbed down) message.

Ok that's my rant for today

If even one half of recreational fishermen in this province alone chipped in ten dollars each to a trust fund, there would be ample funds to initiate the type of pressure you envisage. All that is necessary is a small group to set up as a non-profit, register, and open up an account. This is necessary in order to provide accountability. Alternatively, an existing foundation could be chosen to funnel funds for the purpose. Count me in for the first 10 dollars and whatever help I can provide. Let's all get together and put our money and mouth's where our hearts are. I want fish available for my kids and grandkids!

I totally agree MM that it is all about the bucks; isn't everything?
But I think MC makes a good point that most Sports Fishers would be willing to donate money towards a PR campaign.
However, after many days looking at all the different groups, some charitable some not, claiming to be working for Salmon Preservation And Enhancement the problem becomes obvious too many groups with overlapping and conflicting agendas chasing too few dollars!!!
Yes it would be great if all Sports Fishers could unite under one banner, at nearly half a million strong we would definitely be a force to contend with, unfortunately with so many different groups we are unwittingly walking into that age old trap of "Divide And Conquer"!!!
If only there was some way to argue in court that the money raised from that Salmon Stamp we all have to fork out for on our licenses belonged to us we might have a chance!!!
MT

Here is an article you should read:
www.alexandramorton.typepad.com/

Thanks rsj1, I am a member and just made another donation today!
She is doing great work but only 20,000 have signed her petition from all over Canada and elsewhere, we are 400,000 strong, imagine the impact we could have!!!
MT

I signed her letter and made a donation as well - because we owe it to ourselves and our future generations to protect the resources we have enjoyed and to ensure they get to enjoy them as well.

Really good point MT - we have a bunch of pea-shooters aimed at ottawa when really we need one big cannon.