Last year, I got my PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence) and I was required to take a half day course on safe gun handling, types of firearms, etc. It was immensely helpful in teaching me about firearm safety, types of firearms, ammunition, etc. It is also required if you wish to purchase a firearm in Canada.
In BC, you can just purchase a licence and go fishing. You are told and encouraged to read up on regulations, fish handling techniques, ethical practices, etc, but often many people do not bother. This is evidenced by things like the googan festival on the Vedder River each fall.
Often you'll see anglers mishandle fish, dragging fish onto the bank, holding them out of the water too long, treating certain species of fish worse than other kinds, holding them by the gills, snagging fish, etc. The list could go on forever.
While it's difficult to witness anglers acting unethically, I believe that in many cases, it's simple ignorance that leads to unethical angling practices. Often, anglers are given misinformation, or have misguided perceptions about fishing practices which leads to their unethical angling.
Like the PAL course, I would like to see a mandatory education program whereby anglers are required to attend a short, 2-3 hour course on ethical angling practices, styles of fishing techniques, benefits of catch and release, species of fish, etc. It could also end with a test, just like the PAL. Completion of this course would be a requirement to purchase a licence.
I believe an mandatory course like this could help alleviate an ever growing problem in the angling community of ignorance, that simply stems from misinformation.
What are your thoughts?