The event will bring together more than 50 boats on 10, 11 and 12 September, once again combining competition, tourism and a commitment to the marine environment
The port of Gran Tarajal hosted the launch on Monday of a new edition of the International Big Game Fishing, Tag and Release Open, which marks its 30th anniversary this year.
The Open will take place on 10, 11 and 12 September at the port of Gran Tarajal, with more than 50 boats taking part. Over three days, the event will bring together crews, families and visitors around a competition that has established itself as one of the major fixtures of sport fishing in Fuerteventura, helping to boost activity in the municipality and across the island.
The Cabildo de Fuerteventura’s first deputy president, Nuria Cabrera, said “it is an honour to be part of the launch of this Open, which has now reached 30 years of history.” Cabrera congratulated the Club de Pesca Faro de La Entallada on these three decades of history and reaffirmed the Cabildo’s support for an event that helps showcase Fuerteventura, encouraging residents to come and enjoy it.
For his part, the mayor of Tuineje, David Herrera, noted that reaching 30 editions “shows the strength of an event that represents not just sport, but also tradition, economy and tourism,” and thanked the club for its work as well as the institutions and businesses whose support makes the Open possible.
The Canary Islands Government’s Director General of Fisheries, Esteban Cipriano, highlighted the importance of holding this kind of competition from a sustainable fishing perspective, particularly through the tagging and release of specimens, “to guarantee the conservation of the resource and the future of fishing activity in the Canary Islands.”
The event was also attended by the island’s Councillor for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Enrique Pérez, and the Councillor for Tourism, Marlene Figueroa, who highlighted the tourism dimension of the event, which “is enjoyed not only by residents but also by those who visit us — skippers, crews and families committed to Fuerteventura” — stressing the importance of continuing to consolidate this type of event “as another strand of all the events we hold throughout the year on the island.”
On behalf of the Club de Pesca Faro de La Entallada, José Ramón Figueroa said that “reaching 30 years is no easy feat, and behind this event there are many people — skippers, crews, businesses and institutions — who have kept this fixture alive, one that is so important for the club and for Gran Tarajal.” The club thanked the authorities and collaborating organisations for their support and encouraged residents to head down to the port during the days of the Open.
Also present were Tuineje’s Councillor for Sports, Dulce García, and other island and municipal representatives.
This year’s edition will also have a special character, marking three decades of the Open’s history. The Club Deportivo Faro La Entallada has put together a programme of activities to mark this anniversary, reinforcing the social, get-together atmosphere that characterises the event.
Alongside its sporting and tourism side, the Open maintains its commitment to protecting the marine environment, with initiatives linked to caring for and preserving the surroundings. In this regard, the tag-and-release nature of the competition is part of a philosophy aimed at reconciling the sport with respect for the sea.
The event is supported by the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, the Canary Islands Government, the Fuerteventura Tourism Board (Patronato de Turismo de Fuerteventura), Tuineje Town Council and Puertos Canarios.
