Other Correspondence
Competitions Questionnaire, June 2001

Your decision to become a corresponding member of Recfishwest is a strong sign that you have a very keen interest in fisheries management and stewardship and are an active participants in recreational fishing activities. As such your views and attitudes are highly valued in the shaping of Recfishwest policy and actions. They are important as a guide for the Recfishwest Board in assessing whether we are on the right track.

When the invitations to become a Recfishwest Corresponding member were issued earlier this year, it was proposed that we would periodically take the opportunity to seek the opinion of corresponding members on matters of interest or concern.

The number of Recfishwest corresponding members has continued to grow. We now believe that this membership is sufficiently large and diverse to commence canvassing opinion and be confident that the response received is representative of the recreational fishing population and interests in WA.

This represents our first attempt to canvas the opinion of corresponding members. Being a trial of sorts we have purposely limited this questionnaire to one issue, although a particularly topical issue.

We urge that you consider the issue, complete the form provided, and then post it back to Recfishwest in the pre-paid envelope enclosed.

The responses received will be carefully assessed and used to provide a guide to the Recfishwest Board. Importantly the response received will be assessed to gauge the value of embarking on a series of such questionnaires.

Corresponding Members Questionnaire No.1

Tagged Fish Competitions

In late February 2001 the Swan Brewery widely promoted a tagged fish competition.

The brewery offered a prize of $100,000 for any person who caught the fish by line within a one-month timeframe. The promotion received widespread media coverage.

Recfishwest has concerns with this type competition and in this instance reacted via issuing a joint Prepared by Recfishwest Supporting the SunSmart message
PO Box 57 Claremont WA 6010
Telephone (08) 9246 3366
Facsimile (08)9387 7643
WebSite http://www.recfishwest.org.au:



Following is the media release in full:

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"Fish Bounty Hunt Irresponsible"

The Swan Brewery's promotional stunt of placing a $100,000 prize on the capture of a tagged Black Bream in the Swan River has been roundly condemned as irresponsible by all the peak bodies engaged in Western Australian wild fisheries management issues.

Sustainable Fisheries Liaison Officer with the Conservation Council of WA, Dr Nic Dunlop, said "Offering huge sums of money as a bounty on a tagged fish was likely to cause a significant artificial spike in recreational fishing effort, putting further pressure on limited Black Bream and other river fish stocks. Such promotional stunts also had the potential to encourage unlawful commercial and recreational fishing activities and to confound research into fish populations."

"Recfishwest has only recently spent considerable time and money on a Black Bream re-stocking program to assist in the recovery of the populations following a toxic chemical spill. It was also engaged in encouraging responsible attitudes and conservative fishing practices in the recreational fishing community. This promotion has sent all the wrong messages."

"The commercial and recreational fishing sectors and the Conservation Council of WA are all working towards the responsible and sustainable use of fish resources. Improved co-management of recreational fishing, particularly in densely populated areas like the Swan/Canning Estuary, is a priority. It is possible to think of numerous alternative ways in which $100,000 of private sponsorship could have assisted in meeting these goals and enhanced the reputation of the brewery as a good corporate citizen," Dr Dunlop concluded.

Guy Leyland Frank Prokop Nic Dunlop
WAFIC Recfishwest Conservation Council of WA"

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This media release attracted significant interest. Recfishwest provided comment along the same lines as the media release. This comment was subsequently aired on radio and television and detailed in newspaper articles.

The Recfishwest stance in criticising the brewery's promotion evoked a mixed reaction. This ranged from full support to suggestions that Recfishwest was out of touch with the broader community.

1. Visualise yourself as a Recfishwest Board member faced with the following scenario.
The tagged fish competition has just been announced and advertised. The Recfishwest Board is discussing whether Recfishwest should become involved in the issue and if so what the Recfishwest position or response should be.

During the debate your input and view is sought.

Your response is ........................................................................

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2. Please indicate which option below most closely reflects your attitude toward the promotion of tagged fish competitions.

A) They are a great idea because .........................................................

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B) They are a novel and interesting promotion because...............................

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C) Neither for or against ..................................................................

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D) Mildly concerned with such competitions because.................................

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E) Strongly opposed to such competitions because....................................

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Contact Details (Optional)

NAME ..............................................

Telephone ..........................................



This page last updated on 30 December 2003.