Another important function of the SA Carp Society is education. The SA Carp Society will implement and fund several platforms to:

1. Grow the sport

Various platforms will be used to introduce new anglers to the sport of carp fishing. These platforms include, but are not limited to, regular competitions, seminars / clinics, guided fishing excursions, DVD / TV and multimedia productions, etc.
 

Specimen Carp Fishing Seminars
Gilbert Foxcroft main presenter	Danny Machattie showing an angler the finer points in rig making	Gilbert on hook baits and particle preparation

More seminars and mini clinics will follow. As from January 2009 the SA Carp Society will establish training centres across South Africa to supply training on demand. This not only to promote the sport, but also to allow members to progress to their next level of membership.

2. Change negative perceptions about the sport

This is probably our biggest challenge. We want to rid the sport of the terms "dam-duikers" and "papgooiers" (to only mention a few). We want to establish a new breed of carp anglers – anglers who demand respect. The SA Carp Society's Code of Conduct, which every member must sign before joining, will form the basis of this new carp fishing culture.

The SA Carp Society believes that carp fishing as a whole will be offered much more opportunities, sponsorships, airtime on TV, etc if we can rid the sport of all the negativity and anti-carp fishing propaganda.

Member conduct will play a major part in achieving this goal, hence the Code of Conduct.

3. Educate others about the importance of the sport, its financial impact on the economy, etc.

We will not have to fight as hard for our right to exist when everyone understands the true financial value of our sport and the major role carp fishing plays in our economy. Carp fishing plays a major roll in tourism, imports / exports, manufacturing, retail, etc.

4. Other areas

An area where we believe we can play a major role in the growth of the sport is at the major fishing competitions. Over the last seven years we have witnessed appalling conditions at various events around the country. The SA Carp Society will use these platforms to educate anglers about basic catch and release principles and proper treatment of the fish. We will also assist organisers to improve weigh-in procedures. More and more anglers want to release their fish and organisers must create an environment suitable for releasing the fish after weigh-in.
 

Fish Care at Fishing Competitions
Weigh stations are sometimes overloaded with anglers waiting in queues	Instances like these call for immediate action against the organisers	Anglers need to be given the option to release their catch or be educated about the advantages of Catch & Release

Apart from the cruelty aspect, these practices also give our sport a bad name. Conditions like these calls for immediate action. Sponsors of these events must also assist otherwise these mass killings of fish might reflect badly on their good names.
 

[ GO BACK ]