STOP FISHING?

From the international files, an article has arrived where a Campaign for the Abolition of Angling has been apparently in place since 1981. The article was posted on an international fishing magazine site and included a “study” which in a selective conclusions found that “fish don’t like fisherman” this “study” carried out by 2 men from the Cawthron Institute based their research on 2 experienced anglers on 4 different fishing trips over a single season.

I contacted the Cawthron Institute and asked them to comment on the study.

John Hayes, the co-author of the study replied to me,

I am the research program leader for the investigation you mention. The results have been published in several articles in Fish and Game Magazine (NZ). Some are also on Cawthron's web site. Probably you can get what you need from our website.

I have seen some of the comments citing our research on the web site of "Campaign for the abolition of angling" www.anti-angling.com

Their conclusions regarding our research are totally speculative and erroneous.

Our results show that anglers disturb trout - which is not surprising. That is, when exposed to anglers presence brown trout hide - rainbow trout are also influenced in this manner but less so. Our results also confirm other research that trout learn to avoid anglers’ flies once caught and released. Again this is not surprising. The "Campaign for the abolition of angling" concludes that trout therefore feel pain and that this is a bad thing to inflict on trout. That is pure speculation -our research did not deal with this topic - nor philosophies influencing how people feel about such issues.

My interpretation of the comments on the "Campaign for the abolition of angling" web site is that this group of people are so emotive and irrational about the subject that they will twist any information to suit their opinion.

Cheers John Hayes

The anti fishing brigade would seem to use any means to inhibit, deny or make illegal through all means legal and otherwise to restrict the rights and pleasures of others without and real or rational argument.

The URL is certainly worth a look as we enjoy a freedom which some would take from us by force. It certainly should make us realise just what we have here in New Zealand and keep in mind that we must keep vigilant to protect our right to fish.

Peter Gray