Boycott the S.T.A.R.: CCA Failed to protect Oysters in Big Lake

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by bmac

Is there any legal precedent to the rule that says participants cannot be entered in STAR/CCA and also win a prize in the Galaxy tourney? I am trying to think of a similar situation but I'm drawing a blank.

I wonder if it could be seen as discriminatory in some manner. Of course membership in CCA/STAR is not a protected freedom, so perhaps no discrimination could occur by definition. However afaik political affiliation is not a protected freedom either, so are there any contests that restrict winners to one party?

I'd follow the lead of the gun groups and other conservation groups and not try and force allegiance. I was once a member of NRA, GOA, JFPO, and a state group or two at the same time. A group should compete on its merits, not on schemes to strong arm allegiance. Treat your members well, and in the long run, you'll be the NRA of coastal conservation.

Business arrangements may be different, of course, you might need to give more thought into whether businesses that serve as official S.T.A.R. weigh stations can serve as official Galaxy stations also.

You may also take an approach more like LOWA does with LA state fishing records, or you can base the contest on length where contestants photograph the fish with a suitable length scale. This would allow catch and release entrants as well as a length based bull redfish contest. (Though I would hate to see the contest require release.) Biggest bull reds would be a much more interesting content than chasing tagged reds which has a strong "lottery" like component, but who says you can't do both?