WARFFA – HOW TO HELP PACKAGE

This package released by WARFFA is designed to help with any questions and help steer the key messages that West Australians must continue to push to all recreational fishers, and the community as a whole.

WARFFA wants to ensure that all messages are respectful, and ensure our industry and the 700,000 plus fishers we represent are well received by the general public and also by the Government. Any emails to Ministers or social media responses must be kept respectful and on point with our key messages. Please do not engage with PRO V REC arguments.

The below link gives you access to all the campaign posters for digital (social media use) and printable posters, along with bumper sticker images. WARFFA will provide printed copies of posters to retailers and also bumper stickers for customers.

KEY MESSAGES

  1. WA HAS 750,000 PLUS RECREATIONAL FISHERS, AND FISHING PLAYS A HUGE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
  2. WE CARE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, RECREATIONAL FISHING, AND OUR INDUSTRY, WHICH DEPENDS ON IT
  3. RECREATIONAL FISHING IS WORTH $2.4 BILLION ANNUALLY TO THE WA ECONOMY, ‘WE NEED TO ENSURE THE BEST USE OF THE RESOURCE FOR THE WA COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY’
  4. THE STOCKS ARE RECOVERING, DPIRDS SCIENCE SAYS SO.
  5. REGIONAL COASTAL TOWNS DEPEND ON FISHING TOURISM, AND CURRENT PROPOSALS WILL DESTROY SMALL BUSINESSES AND 1000’S OF JOBS STATEWIDE
  6. WE ASK THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER ITS CURRENT PROPOSALS TO ENSURE AN OUTCOME THAT LOOKS AFTER THE FISH WITHOUT THE DEVASTATING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS
  7. THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO MANAGE THIS COMMUNITY RESOURCE

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

WARFFA worked closely with RFW in the Expert Working group and had a thorough process working through several proposals to achieve the 50% reduction set by the Government.  Protecting spawning fish is a key point, and moving the current Ban to a breeding closure has multiple benefits.

The document is below (hover over to see arrow to click through to each page); a few proposals are listed, so please ensure you read through these.

The petition is there to get DPIRD, the Govt. and stakeholders back to the table and to ensure a fair and proper process.

8 OR 9 MONTHS CLOSURES IS NOT THE SOLUTION, WARFFA met with Minister Punch earlier in the year, and he tasked not only RFW and the EWG but also DPIRD to come up with ‘Better Ways’ to manage this fishery, other than fishing bans; clearly, this wasn’t delivered by DPIRD, and the RFW proposals were ignored.

PETITION

Traction so far is good, with 5000 plus signatures in 3 days and over 726 shares on our page alone, WE MUST CONTINUE TO SHARE AND RE-POST AND GET YOUR IN-STORE CUSTOMERS TO SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION.

BELOW is how to share on Social media and in-store.

BEST OPTION IS TO SIGN ONLINE PETITION SO WE CAN MONITOR NUMBERS ACCURATELY.

1. Poster with QR code to print for instore use. We will have printed copies distributed this week. Customers scan QR code and this will link them directly to the petition to sign.

2. Download the social media tiles here and post with the link to the petition.

3. Download the petition print version for hand signatures, this is not the preferred option but it is available.

 

WHAT CAN STORES DO TO HELP?

Engage with your customers and staff.  Ensure they are across the issue and our message and key points are understood. Ensure a printed copy of the poster is front and centre in your store until our posters are distributed.

Encourage customers, friends and family to sign the petition.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MP, EITHER BY EMAIL OR IN PERSON AND RESPECTFULLY LET THEM KNOW HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR STAFF, AND ALSO HOW IT AFFECTS YOU PERSONALLY. (ATTACHED MEDIA TILE HAS EMAIL ADDRESSES)

FIND YOUR MEMBER HERE:

Member List (parliament.wa.gov.au)

All letters must be kept short, and signed at the bottom including full name, address and phone number.

We need volunteers from retailers, wholesalers and fishing clubs to assist at the Perth Boat Show, 16th to 18th September, Perth Exhibition Centre, this is to gain more signatures on our petition and to spread the word on our key messages.

Contact WARFFA if you help.

Read through RFW Expert Working group list of proposals to DPIRD, key elements of these were all but dismissed by the Department.

 

WHAT CAN YOUR CUSTOMERS DO TO HELP?

Your customers play a vital role in our quest and no doubt are asking what they can to help.  Here is what they can do :

1. Sign the Petition.

2. Letters to the Editor to let them know how these proposals affect them. The West Australian is a good one, as is your local community paper, WE NEED TO GET THIS ISSUE IN THE NON-FISHING PUBLIC’S EYE.

letters@wanews.com.au

All letters must be kept short and signed at the bottom, including full name, address and phone number.

3. CONTACT THEIR LOCAL MP, EITHER BY EMAIL, PHONE OR IN PERSON AND RESPECTFULLY LET THEM KNOW HOW IT AFFECTS THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS. Click here for a ‘How to guide on Contacting your local MP’, and also an attached poster with key MP email addresses.

FIND YOUR MEMBER HERE:

Member List (parliament.wa.gov.au)

4. By joining Recfishwest you’ll strengthen their power to advocate for our rights and receive important updates and information regarding any new developments related to the current status of the government’s proposed WCDS management measures.

To become a member, click here.  This will keep you updated on the latest West Coast Demersal Scale Fishery news.

5. Like and Share the West Australian Family Fishing Alliance FB page for updates on this and other future fisheries management proposals.

6. Talk to their family and friends, even if they are not fishers or affected by these proposals, it’s important that the wider community understand the social and economic impact these proposals will have on WA.

 

WHAT IS COMING?

Petition posters will be available shortly.

WE FISH, WE VOTE BUMPER STICKERS will also be available very shortly for distribution.

Perth Boat show, we will have a stand to gain more signatures, hand out stickers and discuss with the public. This will be a KEY part of the campaign.

 

WARFFA Contacts

** TIM FARNELL 0402 332 361

** BRIAN MARSHALL 0417 974 491

** ASHLEY RAMM 0427 108 616