Just read the new edition of California Diving News and there on the back of the cover is an ad from Sports Chalet. It refers to a "Lobster Contest" On Sept 29th where you "bring in the largest live lobster and win."
Personally, I think this is an ill conceived contest on Sports Chalet's part and further distances me from them (after their recent SoCal dive boat debacle). Taking the largest lobster removes those with the greatest reproductive potential from the population. Many responsible sport bug hunters and marine biologists have been trying to campaign to get recreational divers to leave the big ones behind and take the smaller (and tastier ones). Commercial lobster fishers use traps which prevent the large ones from entering and are therefore a bit more responsible in terms of the size range they take.
No, I don't advocate a boycott of Sports Chalet. NetDoc wouldn't like that. In fact, I recommend that divers who share my concern about this contest walk into Sports Chalet and express their concern to the store managers. Pt. Loma, Marina del Rey, Irvine and West Hills are the four stores mentioned as participating. Send e-mail to those who are in the Sports Chalet chain-of-command.
While I don't generally have high regard for Sports Chalet, I have known a number of very good and concerned dive instructors who work for the operation. Don't harangue the manager... just present the case for abandoning this ill conceived and ill advised contest.
Personally, I think this is an ill conceived contest on Sports Chalet's part and further distances me from them (after their recent SoCal dive boat debacle). Taking the largest lobster removes those with the greatest reproductive potential from the population. Many responsible sport bug hunters and marine biologists have been trying to campaign to get recreational divers to leave the big ones behind and take the smaller (and tastier ones). Commercial lobster fishers use traps which prevent the large ones from entering and are therefore a bit more responsible in terms of the size range they take.
No, I don't advocate a boycott of Sports Chalet. NetDoc wouldn't like that. In fact, I recommend that divers who share my concern about this contest walk into Sports Chalet and express their concern to the store managers. Pt. Loma, Marina del Rey, Irvine and West Hills are the four stores mentioned as participating. Send e-mail to those who are in the Sports Chalet chain-of-command.
While I don't generally have high regard for Sports Chalet, I have known a number of very good and concerned dive instructors who work for the operation. Don't harangue the manager... just present the case for abandoning this ill conceived and ill advised contest.
