SHARK DEFENDER TOOLKIT
Grassroots movements are forming across the globe to stop the dangerous and cruel trend of land-based shark fishing (LBSF). Use our winning strategy to protect your local beach.
STEP 1: Find a local legislative sponsor.
Research your local representatives. Use a tool like ballotready to find a complete list. Search for news coverage to find a politician who has sponsored environmental initiatives, or try contacting them all.
STEP 2: Reach out with a proposal.
Tailor our email template to your local situation. Educate your representative(s) on land-based shark fishing. Tell your personal experience. Include images and statistics. Make sure to emphasize public safety. Attach the draft legislation. It’s important to understand that in the US, the power to ban fishing any species is typically restricted to the state level — but local governments can ban LBSF by regulating fishing gear in public places.
STEP 3: Build a movement.
Start a petition using a tool like Change.org or Care2. Use our petition as a reference. Talk to to people on the beach or pier, in places where they may have encountered shark fishing. Start a campaign on social media. Reach out to @fish_defender to help boost or collaborate.
STEP 4: Follow through.
Once your bill is proposed, organize your community to email the city or county officials who will vote on it. Raise your voice in public testimonies and hearings. Bring photos and evidence to council meetings. Show them that we are the majority.
STEP 5: Keep swimming.
You may encounter obstacles. We’re here to guide you through them. We were told banning LBSF was illegal in Florida. It’s not. We wrote a legal case explaining how local governments had the power to regulate fishing gear for public safety, pointing to other cities that had already done so. You can find it in the toolkit, along with templates for every step along the way. Keep us in the loop so we can support you: info@fishdefender.org. Let’s go.
SHARK DEFENDER TOOLKIT
Grassroots movements are forming across the globe to stop the dangerous and cruel trend of land-based shark fishing (LBSF). Use our winning strategy to protect your local beach.
STEP 1: Find a local legislative sponsor.
Research your local representatives. Use a tool like ballotready to find a complete list. Search for news coverage to find a politician who has sponsored environmental initiatives or try contacting them all.
STEP 2: Reach out with a proposal.
Tailor our email template to your local situation. Educate your representative(s) on land-based shark fishing. Tell your personal experience. Include images and statistics. Make sure to emphasize public safety. Attach the draft legislation. It’s important to understand that in the US, the power to ban fishing any species is typically restricted to the state level — but local governments can ban LBSF by regulating fishing gear in public places.
STEP 3: Build a movement.
Start a petition using a tool like Change.org or Care2. Use our petition as a reference. Talk to to people on the beach or pier, in places where they may have encountered shark fishing. Start a campaign on social media. Reach out to @fishdefender_org to help boost or collaborate.
STEP 4: Follow through.
Once your bill is proposed, organize your community to email the city or county officials who will vote on it. Raise your voice in public testimonies and hearings. Bring photos and evidence to council meetings. Show them that we are the majority.
STEP 5: Keep swimming.
You may encounter obstacles. We’re here to guide you through them. We were told banning LBSF was illegal in Florida. It’s not. We wrote a legal case explaining how local governments had the power to regulate fishing gear for public safety, pointing to other cities that had already done so. You can find it in the toolkit, along with templates for every step along the way. Keep us in the loop so we can support you: info@fishdefender.org. Let’s go.