Shark Safe Sportfishing

• Action Plan:
  
  1. Contact local fishing clubs and ask if you could come to one of their meetings and give a short presentation on sharks (see Shark Safe Sportfishing Presentation)
  
  

  a.	Have a discussion about sharks and their value to the ecosystem. Many fishermen see sharks as a nuisance and think that the sharks are depleting other fish. Be prepared to explain why this is not true, and why more sharks actually means a healthier ecosystem with more fish.
  b.	Have a discussion about the ethics of catch & release shark fishing
  c.	Provide them with information on the mercury content in shark meat - discourage them from eating it and feeding it to their families.
  d.	Keep the message clear and positive - we're not trying to stop them from fishing. We just want them to be aware of the environmental issues related to sharks and fishing for sharks, including the decline in shark populations and sharks' importance to marine ecosystems.
  e.	Stay polite and positive.

  
  
  2. Ask for their assistance in communicating with organizers and sponsors of kill shark tournaments.
  
  3. Ask them to contact the IGFA to let them know that they support a Catch & Release Only policy for sharks.
  
  4. Ask them to let the IGFA know that they don't agree with Fishing Tournaments that kill sharks - especially the large and often pregnant females from threatened shark species - that are frequently the target of these tournaments.
  
  5. Ask them to also let the IGFA know that they don't agree with killing these same threatened sharks for the sake of a record.