Originally posted by DUROBOAT15:
Ramon,
Its been said here afew times that alot of WT members are sport fisherman themselves as are you. So if that is the case even if 100% of your catch is released. How can your group say they will do anything to protect wild fish. With hook mortality and stress mortality your group will have some impact on wild fish.Would it not? Would this make the fisherman in your group hypocrites? I for one would sure think so.
Would it be hypocritical for a Ducks Unlimited supporter to shoot a duck during the season? No, not at all... You can protect a species so it can thrive in the wild and still value it as a gamebird or gamefish, whatever the case maybe.
Washington Trout is different in that they are not interested in protecting fishing opportunities, but rather to ensure future generations have the chance to have wild fish. They believe wild fish have intrinsic value beyond what they provide as a resource. However, its only natural that the people most interested in saving fish are fishermen because they have a hands-on appreciation for them. In the same respect, a kid who has never seen a forest is much less likely to see the value in preserving forests than someone who went camping, fishing, hunting, etc. You appreciate what you know, and fishermen know fish.
I don't believe WT members are hypocritical in the least in that many fish for what they are trying to protect. WT doesn't stand on either side of pro or anti-fishing, so how are they going against their beliefs?
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