What to DO about the anti-diver vibe? FEEDBACK REQUESTED

[Nautical Dreamer]

It been a while but back when I read Sun Tzu the Art of War. I remember one of the strategies was to overwhelm the enemy. We could use some outside assistance from people who are better funded, organized and crazier than we are, to fight the battle for us. I suggest one of the most irrational groups out there, PETA http://www.lobsterlib.com/wycd.html

Someone should contact these nuts and get them to hold one of there rallies up in Cape Ann area. The lobsterman will have there hands so full dealing with PETA and the media crusade that will follow that their contention to the diving community will fade into the night. Does any one work in the PR business or know any celebrities that would be willing to help? Someone up in the Cape Ann area must have some media pull or celebrity connections.

 

[Johnw...ski]

Cut all the traps loose.
Our cry can be "FREE THE LOBSTERS"

Free the lobsters,

John

 

[Damselfish]

Needs to be approached in a number of ways. One is the whole legal/lobbying aspect. The other side is, what's actually in it for them, anyway? I would argue not much. Trying to show economic impact of divers I'm skeptical of helping, as I don't think it is all that much. I doubt most people living on Cape Anne care about divers or other visitors money unless they happen to own a business that would benefit. Everyone else would probably be happier with less traffic. There's tourism on Cape Anne but it's just not the main economic game. Regular visitors aren't harassed like divers, but it's not like it's so much easier for them to use a beach or park anyplace. If it mattered enough to want more people coming they'd figure out a way to provide parking for areas like Bearskin Neck in Rockport and generally make things more tourist friendly.

From a different angle, I wonder if most lobstermen (or other people) really have any idea what's down there, and that there are other reasons people are diving that have nothing to do with lobsters, let alone "their" lobsters? Maybe get some people to do talks/presentations of local UW photographs, at a school auditorium or whatever works. Promote the presentation in the area including to the kids. Even something just for kids during the school year might help, since they can be very ecologically minded and some might go home to their parents enthused about it. Or try and get someone to write a similar article for the local paper. Figure out any other ways to be do-gooders so there is actually something in it for people there, like emotionally or ecologically if not economically. Whatever ways to educate people and make diving be visible in a positive way. For these types of things focus just on what's UW, not all the other crap that goes on. Maybe things like that would get some people thinking differently that otherwise won't know anything but what the fishing interests say.

I do sort of like the PETA idea tho.

 

[STOGEY]

I say that when we come up to a lobsta trap we pull out the lobstas, and replace them with fake doggie doo.

In actuality I think that we could start writing our state legistltures and writing opinions in our local newspapers. This will let other people who like visiting other beaches know what is going on.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Actually, you cold leave a little note from the LLF, Lobster Liberation Front...

 

[SteveAD]

I have one comment and two ideas.

comment:

The main anti diver group is and always has been the lobstermen. They hate all divers because they know that we all steal lobsters out of their traps. This is of course simply untrue, but then again so are most prejudices held by ignorant people.

idea 1:

many of us rarely if ever take any lobsters, it might be worthwhile to make up stickers/signs/t-shirts with some sort of "non lobster diver" message on it to show the percentage of us who are not a factor at all to the lobstermen.

idea 2:

along the same line as the earlier post about the monterey money stickers, we could make it a point to use cash when we are out there, and have a few stamps made up with a dive flag and "diver bucks" on it. maybe when the locals see how many diver bucks are in circulation they might realize we have a positive economic impact in the are.

I would be more than happy to get a stamp made up and offer its use as a free customer service.

 

[NEdiver1]

I do not leave my $ on Cape Ann. As soon as I cross the bridge I become A SCROOGE! When leaving, as soon as I cross that same bridge, I sometimes hit Lobsta Land, or head to Sylvan Street Grill. Those !@#$'s will never recieve anything from me other than the occasional PARKING fine. They think they own the entire rights to the ocean.

We need to all band together on these issues, because we seem to be the diving TALIBAN!!

Safe diving to all !

 

[Johnw...ski]

Actually, you cold leave a little note from the LLF, Lobster Liberation Front...

Oh, I like that one.
I've just baked a few lobsters in effigy and released thier soles.

Free the lobsters,

John

 

[Ken abucs]

How about we make up a sign that says "A diver was here, and didn't molest your traps". Then leave them on every trap we come across.

 

[MSilvia]

How about we make up a sign that says "A diver was here, and didn't molest your traps". Then leave them on every trap we come across.

Good idea, except that securing a sign to a trap would count as molesting it.