Shark Safe Sportfishing Tournament

• Action Plan:
  
  1. Contact organizers / sponsors to request change of format and offer alternative plan. Be sure to stress that you are not against their event and you would like to work with them to make their event more sustainable and more profitable. Ask to meet with them. If you can ask a local shark scientist, a member of the local business community or anyone you can think of who could help to make the tournament organizers more receptive to you.
  
  In the meeting:
  

  	Outline reasons why a kill tournament is detrimental to the future of sport fishing / future tournaments and why it is bad for the environment.
  	Explain that displaying dead animals gives a negative image to the community and will not help tourism.
  	Offer alternative shark education to attract visitors in a positive way that is not damaging to the environment and does not give a negative image of the community.
  	Keep the message clear and positive - we don't want to stop their event and the potential income it will bring to businesses. We want to offer a solution that makes the event more positive, profitable and environmentally friendly.
  	Stay polite and positive.
  	Provide facts that are relevant to the particular tournament - ex. One or more of the targeted species is Endangered; A nursery area for breeding / pregnant sharks is involved.
  	Also provide general facts about the decline in shark populations due to overfishing; the importance of sharks to the marine ecosystem; health hazards associated with eating shark meat.

  
  
  2. If you're not able to set up a meeting initially, try contacting the organizers and sponsors by letter. Include the information listed above in your letter. See Sportfishing Materials for examples.
  
  3. If organizers / sponsors are not willing to consider a change of format, then make it clear that you will take the message to the businesses and residents of the community. Let them know that there will be negative press for the community, sponsors and organizers if the tournament remains a kill tournament.
  
  4. Contact the Chamber of Commerce and write to local businesses. Identify a local newspaper or reporter who is sympathetic to the issue. Identify and partner with local groups and individuals who support a format change to 100% catch & release. Get the word out through letters to local businesses, talks at local schools, media. If appropriate organize an educational shark conservation rally in the community.
  
  5. If possible identify and contact a local fishing club that understands environmental issues and supports catch & release. Ask for their assistance in communicating with organizers and sponsors. Do they know / have members in their club who would participate if the tournament were catch & release vs kill? See Sportfisherman Action Plan
  
  6. Involve local shark scientists to provide scientific backup and credibility to your arguments. Also make sure the local scientists do not agree to take specimens from any kill tournament. Ask them to encourage cooperation with scientists through tagging and data collection rather than dead bodies for specimens.
  
  7. Tailor your campaign to the specific event - not all tournaments are the same. But never deviate from the basic Shark Safe Network campaign principles:
  

  	Address the issues from a positive, balanced perspective
  	Ensure cultural sensitivities - be responsible and respectful
  	Be accurate, factual, thoughtful, reasonable
  	Educate and build awareness rather than condemn. Work with - not against.
  	Unite the passion of many to make a difference - no more splintered efforts. A common voice.
  	Present solutions and provide alternatives

  
  
  NOTE: When we talk with shark fishermen tournament directors about changing to catch and release, it's extremely important to make sure they understand why they need to use circle hooks vs J hooks. J hooks more often than not wind up "gut hooking" the animal. Once they've been gut hooked, their chances for survival are slim to none. Hook removal devices are also highly recommended. And rules to minimize stress and injury to the sharks, such as "no gaffing" are important as well. See the Sportfishing Resources section for more information on recommended gear and tournament rules.