Are we getting our message across?

[Jencourt]

Are we sure we are getting our message across clearly?

It seems to me that every time I read a ”non bias” article or hear a news report such as the A News one. I find myself feeling angry .It seems, that the strongest message being left for the average person to chew on is that stocks are declining ,cuts to fishing are pending ,yet the sport fisherman are fighting for more.
We as sport fishers that have educated ourselves on this understand that it is a better share of what is safely available that we are after. Not that we are looking to take more than what is determined to be a safe amount for the biomass.
As we gain momentum and look to grow the numbers of Canadians that will understand the big picture I cannot help but think that most are still being left with the wrong message. The A-News segment is a good example of this.
I realize this was supposed to be a non bias report about an issue and not an advisement for either side. I did here the words” available quota” and ”bigger share” but I am not sure the masses would know what any of that means. I cannot tell you how many people read something and then say to me” the sport fishers are trying to get the limits raised eh?”

Anyone else share that take on it? I know the meeting were intended to help with this.
What else could we do?

Cheers: Ray

 

[Sushihunter]

Ray:

I would agree with you that we are preaching to the choir. The average person on the street does not understand the allocation issue, and our attempts at explaining it are falling flat. Now that the commies are gearing up to respond to us, we had better get on message and make it clear.

Keep in mind that this is not a black and white issue. There are several layers of gray here.

We need to explain our points in a way that a 6 year old could understand it.

I have not been able to get to any of the meetings, as I'm stuck here in Tahsis, a town that is going to be hit hard by any reduction in the Halibut season.

What I have seen is only what is posted on this board. I've seen the CHEK video, but not any of the other TV reports. I have not seen any printed material other than the signs that were posted here.

Could someone who is organising this protest not put together an easy to read flyer with a point by point description of what the issue is and what we want?

Gary Cooper seems to be involved at some level. Could we not get his help to shoot a series of 15, 30, and 60 second spots to explain our issue? How about getting Cooper to do a 30 minute show on the issue?

Now granted, the public does not read this or any other fishing board. But what I have seen here is that there is no consistent agenda being pursued. We have a bunch of people who all have their own ideas on how to "fix" the Halibut problem. I've seen people here pushing for annual limits on Halibut, or restricting our fishery in some other form. Buying quota for fishing lodges, buying quota for all rec. fishermen, not buying quota because we already own it, etc., etc.

We need leadership to say "this is what we are fighting for, this is what we want, this is the solution that will help all of us".

Now, I'm not faulting what has been done to date. Getting fishing guides and sports fishermen to join together and move in one direction is like hearding cats. That we have gotten to the point we are at today is a major accomplishment in my book! Well done!

I'm just saying we need to focus. We need to educate the public so they will side with us, and not see it as a greedy grab for more of a failing fishery.

My 2 cents...

 

[Fish-Hunter]

I agree Ray, I get the same feeling quite a bit. I have tried to be very objective in my research on this issue, tried to look at it from both sides of the fence. It is my belief that both the Recreational Fishermen AND the Working (Active) Commercial Fishermen are being screwed by the DFO and the Slipper Skippers (Non-Fishing Quota Owners - NFQO). Both the Sporties and the Working Commercial guys should be banding together on this issue to force a change that will allow us Sporties to have enough fish to fish for a full year, and allow the working Commercial guys to fish for a realistic cost/profit during the year, and stop an inappropriate use of a Canadian resource by less than 300 individuals or corporations.

I think that when we all talk of this issue to those that do not know the issue at all, we all must be very aware of what and how we say it, so that the truth is not misconstrued by either an individual, or more importantly a media person that will then spin the story for more dramatics and flare to capture the attention of the uninformed individual, and there by possibly creating an untruth that the uninformed will now believe because "it said it in the paper, on TV etc..." It does seem that most of the news articles are wanting to tell the story of one side pointing the finger at the other side, (because it sells) and that is sometimes portraying the Sporties in a not so favourable light in regards to our actual requests of the Minister of DFO.

 

[SeaWolf]

The Vancouver Boat Show would be draw a lot of attention.

WESTERN CANADA’S PREMIERE BOAT SHOW
QUALIFIED, ENGAGED ATTENDEES
THE PEOPLE YOU WANT
• 63% own a boat
• 67% come to the Show to shop for boats,
accessories and services
• 60% plan to attend the in-water venue
at False Creek Yacht Club (second year of
expansion)
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
• 69% are male
• 70%are 35–65 years of age
• 22%are 18–34 years of age
• 63% earn more than $76,000
TYPES OF BOATERS
• Trailerable Boater 40%
• Cruiser Boater 30%
• Cottager 18%
• Yacht Club Boater 12%
AREA/REGION TRAVELED FROM
• 50% Lower Mainland
• 14% Vancouver Island
• 12% Fraser Valley
• 5% Sunshine Coast
• 5% Thompson Okanagan
• 6% Northern BC
• 5% Alberta
• 3% Other
NUMBER OF YEARS ATTENDED
• 30% first time in 2009
• 38% 2–5 years
• 15% 6–10 years
• 11% 11–20 years
• 6% 21–44 years
TYPES OF BOATS OWNED
• 16% Sailboat
• 15% Cruiser
• 23% Runabout
• 6% Canoe/Kayak/Pedal
• 19% Fishing Boat
• 8% Motor Yacht
• 7% High Performance
• 3% PWC or Jet Boat
• 1% Pontoon or Deck
• 2% Other
(Statistics drawn from 2009 attendee surveys)
IN-WATER VENUE AT FALSE CREEK
YACHT CLUB BUILDS
ON SUCCESS
False Creek Yacht Club offers an ideal setting
for exhibitors wishing to showcase boats in
water; more than 70 powerand sailboats were
on display at the 2009 show. Shore tents
for accessories and services are also available.
False Creek Yacht Club also offers easy
access for attendees and exhibitors. Free
shuttle buses run continuously between the
Vancouver Convention Centre and False Creek
Yacht Club throughout the show’s 5-day run.
Don’t delay—we expect to sell-out in 2011!
Apply for your in-water location today
ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONS
Show marketing is designed to boost
attendance and drive qualified traffic to the
Show. A highly visible, fully integrated
advertising campaign launches in the weeks
leading up to the Show, featuring a strategic
mix of print, broadcast, internet and e-mail.
The popular and proven campaign—“It’s
time for that boat”—will return to continue its
momentum in 2011. It promotes the boating
lifestyle, helps sell your product or service,
and grows attendance with the consumers
you want to see. Public relations reinforces
the advertising, working to generate Show
awareness, securing news stories in TV,
newspapers, magazines and online.
Kick off your season at a proven sales event! The Vancouver
International Boat Show is a must-attend event for boaters and
anyone thinking of getting into boating —Over 40,000 qualified
prospects expected to attend ! There’s no better way to reach
British Columbia ’s boating market.

 

[Gunsmith]

I am going to be there and I would love to see something about the Halibut issue there.

 

[fishingbc]

i am going to be there and i would love to see something about the halibut issue there.

things are in the works....for all kinds of public awareness.....they will not be discussed openly here as you know who is monitoring these boards very closely.....stealth mode.....

 

[Fish Assassin]

Is there a boat show this year? If so where at?

 

[Fish Assassin]

I see there will be one this year at the Vancouver Convention Center. Hope it is a good one being that I would think it will be a smaller venue then other years. If there are people in the Valley that what to go they should let me know as I can help with transportation costs as most of you know.