Guidelines for Artisanal Demonstrational Fishing Are Ready
November 8, 2005
Quito, Ecuador
from El Comercio

Many members of the Galapagos fishing sector long for the times of the 1970s. During that time, many tourist activities were carried out in fishing boats refitted to provide basic accommodations for visitors.

Today, the door has once again been opened for fishermen to participate more directly in the tourism industry in the islands. The mechanism currently being discussed is referred to as “Demonstrational Artisanal Fishing” (Pesca Vivencial) through which fishermen will share their experiences at sea with tourists. Visitors will have the opportunity to accompany fishermen on San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela Islands.

It will be some time before these programs get under way. Even though there is agreement and support of these programs among the JMP as of July 28th, it is unclear whether or not there will be widespread support among local fishermen.

Once fishermen are in agreement, the next step will be to present proposed guidelines to the Inter-Institutional Management Authority (AIM). If approved, work will begin immediately to make the practice operational.

Dionisio Zapata, President of the Santa Cruz Cooperative, explains that there will not be a need for large monetary investments to begin working with tourists. “We will comply with security regulations, such as radio and GPS…What tourists won’t have are luxurious accommodations, like on cruise ships. The idea is to experience the life of fishermen… This will only be a limited industry. There will only be 28 registered boats on Santa Crúz”.

According to Galapagos National Park files, as of January 7, 2003, of the 446 fishing licenses, 67 corresponded to large fishing boats, 145 were for open fishing boats (fibras) and 234 were for smaller fishing boats, called pangas.

The idea of limiting Demonstrational Artisanal Fishing to small boats is to make sure that a maximum number of fishermen can benefit from the practice. Also, fibras, because of their small size, can only make relatively short day trips. Recent requests to allow the use of larger boats changes the nature of the original proposal.

Washington Tapia, Director of the Galapagos National Park, asked the members of the fishing sector to work together with this initiative. “Tomorrow’s meeting is to discuss the reconsideration of allowing recreational fishing.”

Zapata insists that the sector is not divided on these issues, and discussed a meeting that took place yesterday between the four cooperatives. However, they won’t know where they stand on this issue until the conclusion of tomorrow’s meeting that will take place in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.

“Since the fishing sector is united, we don’t need to worry about aligning, nor are we against our partners [also referencing the tourist industry]...Changes have been made in the Isabela and San Cristóbal Cooperatives; there are new goals, and we need to determine the new vision for this issue.”

Contact: comments@galapagos.org