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Garden Cottage
Self-catering accommodation in the heart of Tipperary |
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Is “Sport Fishing” Legal in the Galapagos?
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NO
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Can I Fish in the Galapagos?
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YES!
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Can I Fish for Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, etc.?
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YES!
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Does This Make Sense?
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See for yourself...
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There are no easy answers...
Nonetheless, if you support the notion of sustainable and responsible “Eco-tourism” (with a focus on local management and benefit) we are confident that you will find the answer to this riddle. Read this section, together with the page: “What is Vivencial Fishing”.
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Recreational Fishing, call it “Sport Fishing” if you like, is a sensitive and rather contentious issue here in the Galapagos.
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“Sport Fishing”, at least by that name, is illegal in the Galapagos Marine Reserve - This is the official position of the National Park (GNP), supported by the the Darwin Foundation, the WWF, and other conservationist bodies.
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At the same time, tourist-based recreational fishing has been recognised as a viable activity, as long as it benefits the local population and is properly regulated. Extended discussions between the interested parties has led to creation of the activity known variously as:
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- Pesca Artesanal Vivencial (PAV);
- Artisanal Vivencial Fishing or;
- Vivencial Fishing
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The GNP issues special licences to select local fishermen and their boats to offer “Artisanal Vivencial Fishing”. With a Vivencial Fishing licence we can take you fishing for all but a few protected species, such as shark and rays.
Right: A routine boarding and inspection by the Galapagos National Park and Port Authority (Capitania)
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Here is the official position, from the Galapagos National Park website:
“La pesca deportiva en la Reserve Marina de Galapagos esta prohibida mediante Decreto Ejecutivo No 014 publicado en el Registro Oficial No 564”.
“Pesca Deportiva” is Spanish for “Sport-Fishing”. So, the short answer is: No - “Sport-Fishing” (as such) is not legal in the Galapagos. However, “ARTISANAL VIVENCIAL FISHING” IS LEGAL, IF THE BOAT AND OPERATOR ARE PROPERLY LICENCED BY THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK. The same GNP website goes on to describe Artesanal Vivencial Fishing:
“En su lugar, se ha desarrollado y aprobado la pesca artesanal vivencial, que es una modalidad demostrativa de la actividad pesquera con un enfoque turístico. En ella, los turistas acompañan al pescador para apreciar, de primera mano, el arte tradicional de la pesca en Galápagos.”
Roughly translated:
“In its place, Artisanal Vivencial Fishing has been approved and developed. This is a demonstrational and experiential form of fishing with an emphasis on tourism. Tourists accompany the fisherman to appreciate, first hand, the traditional art of fishing in Galapagos.”
<Click here to view the source>
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NB:
The Galapagos National Park’s regulations have been revised recently (February 23, 2011). In particular, the reference to “demonstrativa” (demonstrational) has been removed. However, the Park’s web-site has yet to be updated to match the new regulations. The relevant passage from the Regulations can be viewed on the page: “What is Vivencial Fishing?”.
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Galeodan is licensed by the Galapagos National Park (GNP) and Port Authority (Capitania) to practice “Artisanal Vivencial Fishing” (commonly referred to as “Vivencial Fishing”). Our Vivencial Fishing licence allows us to take tourists fishing for big-game, such as Marlin and Tuna, as well as Wahoo, Grouper, Dolfin-Fish, Dorado, you name it. You can even dive for Lobster (in season, of course) You can take supper home with you. You might see this simply as “Sport-Fishing” by another name, but with its special origins, and vision, it is something more. We encourage use of the term: “Vivencial Fishing”.
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These are the licences issued to the Owner and Boat, by the GNP and Capitania.
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Click on any image for a closer look.
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Fishing, of any type, in the Galapagos Marine Reserve is strictly regulated and there are only a handful of operators licensed to offer Vivencial Fishing to visitors. The principal of Galeodan, Maria Elena Ricaurte, herself the daughter of a fisherman, is one of the few. Maria Elena’s father, Carlos Ricaurte Granda, was the originator and driving force behind Artisanal Vivencial Fishing and was closely involved at every stage of its acceptance and development.
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