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GNP News: The Galapagos National Park Service does not authorize sport fishing tournament in Galapagos
12 February 2010
Marlin: The International Sportfishing Magazine, a major international fishing magazine, recently published an article advertising a sport fishing tournament in Galapagos, which they claimed was endorsed by the Galapagos National Park. This statement has generated considerable concern throughout Galapagos.
The Galapagos National Park has not authorized any person or organization to organize a sport fishing tournament in the archipelago.
Sport fishing is not permitted within the Galapagos Marine Reserve, which means that the promotion and execution of an event of this type will result in legal action on the part of the GNPS.
Proceso de Relaciones Públicas – Parque Nacional Galápagos – Ecuador
For more information, write to: comunicacion@spng.org.ec, or visit www.galapagospark.org
Your article abour the National Park not authorizing a fishing tournament is only half true and you know what they say about a “half truth” !!! While it is true that the National Park did not authorize a fishing tournament that was proposed by a group from the mainland, they did indeed authorize another totally different fishing tournament that was proposed by the local fleet of Vevencial Licensed boats in San Cristobal with the support of the local Tourism Chamber of Commerce. The result of your article has been that promotional efforts by the boat owners of the local fleet as well as the Tourism Chamber, in cooperation with their representatives outside of Ecuador, have been practically wasted, as very few international anglers from around the world have taken interest in participating in “their” fully authorized event. In other words, your reporting has worked against the local economy of San Cristobal.
We hope that in the future your reporting will be more responsible.
Thank you,
Rick Alvarez
— Rick Alvarez · Saturday April 03, 2010 · #
Rick,
Talking about responsible reporting, I think you forgot to mention that you have been promoting this tournament since December 2009, before it was approved by the Galapagos National Park; that you are the tournament director; that you run Artmarina, a sportfishing operation from the US; the sponsors of the tournament include, Atlantic Taxidermy!!! and that you are not a Galapagos Artesanal Fisherman.
I hope you haven’t suffered too badly from the bad publicity.
Tammy.
— Tammy · Wednesday April 14, 2010 · #
When will you stop taking everything out from Galápagos and giving nothing back????
I bet the bad publicity took some pennies out of your pockets ha??? I’m Sorry but you should know there is a lot of local effort on improving the situation in Galapagos and not making it worse!With all this Sportfishing operation from the U.S. promoting tournaments and manipulating local fisherman, you are just contributing to the depleting of native wildlife and social problematic happening in the islands. And, saying to your customers that they shouldn’t use the name “SPORTFISHING” because the National Park doesn’t like it, is LYING to your customers.
Mr. Rick, you should be ashamed of – on top – posting a complain about your “illegalities” on a National Park, “World Natural Heritage” where not even artesanal fishing should be aloud in the first place… and you promoting sportfishing for foreigners?? Well done..!!!
— Dan Leon · Friday April 16, 2010 · #