The IGFA (International Game Fishing Association) has just announced new records based on a fishes length. Underlying these new classes is the idea that fish can be released quickly, so survival rates will be higher. This in contrast to the fact that for most records a fish has to die in order to be weighed for a record.
But there is a general underlying assumption that has me worried.
That assumption is that length records will help foster catch & release - and it may well be true that it will. It is the next assumption based on that first assumption that makes me believe that the IGFA is trying to solve an unsolvable problem.
The IGFA believe that C & R will somehow make fishing more ‘acceptable’ to non-fishers and animal rightists. Faint hope - and it is more than probable that C & R plays right into animal rightist’s hands.
There are many who believe that fishing is cruel, and at the ‘lunatic’ end are the animal rights groups who would ban all fishing, commercial and sport. Then there are the people who believe that hooking a fish and landing it and not killing it is cruel - catch and release is an anathema to them. Hooking a fish, and playing (a truly unfortunate word) it, only to let it go will never be justifiable to these people. And if you think that this view is confined to ‘tree-huugers’ you are mistaken.
Want proof? Just describe in detail catching and releasing a fish to a non-fishing friend or associate, you may be surprised by the reaction.
Using length records is a good step in the direction of conservation, but I think it would be foolish to try and suggest it will in any way diminish the non-fishers view that fishing is cruel, and may in fact add fuel to their fire.
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