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West Marine indirectly supports complete fishing bans!
I'm an infrequent lurker on these boards and usually frequent a west-coast based board. However, we are all under attack. On the west coast there are radical environmentalist proposals that are intended to close large areas to all fishing (commercial and recreational alike).
We can all agree that some species are in trouble and should be protected. Personally, I'm against outright bans on fishing. I support species-specific targeted protections instead. One organization pushing for complete closures is the Ocean Conservancy. West Marine has come out in favor of this organization and supports them financially in spite of the fact that their largest customer segment is recreational fishermen.
Before we all go off half-cocked, I suggest you support your allegations. What is the source of your information? I'd like to see it for myself.
I checked West Marine's webpage and looked at the 'About West Marine' | 'Donations' area. I found nothing that indicates a relationship to Ocean Conservancy. It is interesting to note that there is a picture of Randy Repass, the Founder of West Marine in a fishing setting where he is holding up a large salmon. If you're not just trolling, please let us know where to look so we can see this for ourselves.
Let me say that I am intolerant of any company that seeks to end our recreational fishing activities. Especially those who derived considerable profit from those who enjoy fishing. It has been alleged that Anheuser-Busch is also supporting this Conservancy. If this is true, I will have to take my family to other theme parks, change my cheap beer buying habits, and let all of my fishing/hunting friends know what A-B is all about.
Guys, cannot report on the stance of West Marine but the fishing regs in California are a complete mess. The regs change too much and sometimes many times in a season. You have to check the Fish and Game website before you fish to ensure you aren't poaching. I feel for the Fish and Game enforcers, the rangers etc. These folks are always nice but caught in the middle of a big skermish over the eco groups, govt and commercial guys. I do know the recreational fishermen in the bay-area are mounting some defense to the new regs and proposals. I hope there are others to help.
I'm with you Work2fish, Too many times people go off half cocked because of some unsubstantiated statement made by an unknown. After all is said and done, people raising the stink are made to look like asses. You begin to wonder what their REAL motives are. Then again, we're fishmen and are totally brainless, aren't we?.... NOT! If he can prove it then people will take a look and then , decide a course.
Whoknows,
I know you guys on the opposite coast have it bad, but believe me we're catching up. You're right about the game officers job being tough. I see people taking fish illegally all the time and only wish that they would be caught. It's more than a crime to see the size of the fish. They wouldn't make a decent meal.
And yet ANOTHER Ocean Conservancy project supported by West Marine. While this project has merit.. one must look at the BIG picture that these folks want to do... take away our rights....
Just to cap this off. Iam still a CCA member (Texas) even though there is no chapters out here. I emailed some stuff to CCA about the California issues and they said:
" I understand California recreational anglers are facing all sorts of adversity right now. From sweeping no-fishing zones to regulatory confusion, it sounds tough. I am sorry I do not have a comforting reply for you. But, in the no-fishing zone arena, both United Anglers and the American Sportfishing Association have made a stand in Cali. Although CCA has been entrenched in the no-fishing zone battle, we have not specifically targeted California."
I can understand that statement but as California goes so goes the rest of the country (ie. emission laws etc). We all need to look at the issues, me included. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Sounds like we not only have to write our own Congressmen, we also need to write West Marine and Anhauser-Busch. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img]
West Marine has been a fine catalog ordering shopping place for me. I've always been happy till now. There are too many hard working guys at other places, catalogs, and websites to continue doing business with any company supporting extremist points of view. I'm not spending any more of my money at West Marine.
(Very slick how this link from the Ocean Conservancy website actually goes to a different domain...could they be trying to cover their tracks and true intentions?).
I did send an email to Messrs. Edmondson and Repass as well as Ms. Farabaugh (corporate contact mentioned in the press release) expressing my concern and displeasure about WM's support.
Also, or those of you that might not have seen it, the American Sportfishing Association has an easy tool that you can use to send an email to your Congressmen in Washington:
I wrote a letter to the contact on the West Marine site. In part I said: "The Ocean Conservancy appears to be supporting policies, which, while emotionally satisfying for some, are, in fact, onerous and heavy-handed. Specifically, they oppose the "Freedom to Fish" (S.1314 and H.R. 3104) which would require data before closing whole areas to sport-fishing. Further, I believe their proposals for "Ocean Wilderness" while superficially appealing, when carried to the extent the Conservancy speaks, borders on the cusp of environmental radicalism.
I am a sport fisherman, deeply interested in the ecology of our world and waters, but oppose knee-jerk reactions and actions by the less-than-knowledgeable, or those who advocate a policy of exclusion for their own esthetic satisfaction. Frankly, there are better organizations who do better."
Don't just complain on fishermans' forums: let others know too! (thanks to WJW, what ever his agenda!)
If you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question!
Fishing under attack 
