BILL FISH FOUNDATION “TOURISTS AND FISHERMEN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE DOMINICAN COASTS”

Peter Chaibongsai, Director of the Conservation Program of The Billfish Foundation, expressed that tourists are people who enjoy a clean, comfortable and full of life paradise, especially of fish, hence the importance of generating in visitors a consciousness aimed at the preservation of natural resources. Cap Cana, Rep. Dom. October 17, 2018. In the opinion of Peter Chaibongsai, Director of the Conservation Program of The Billfish Foundation, for the preservation of the beautiful coasts of the Dominican Republic it is fundamental the participation of tourists and that of sport and artisanal fishermen, so it is key to inform them about the different programs that are carried out in the country to protect marine life.

The expert considered that this should be a priority, and that although the Dominican Republic does a good job, it is necessary to maintain a permanent information strategy. “Tourists are people who enjoy a clean, comfortable and full of life paradise, especially  of fish, hence the importance of generating in visitors an awareness directed to the preservation of natural resources.”

Chaibongsai indicated that it is essential to also incorporate fishermen, both those that live of the trade as those who participate in sports tournaments, who are key players in actions to conserve our coasts; the permanent informing of species that can be fished or are protected by a ban, is a big step. A significant initiative is to develop a program with fishing villages; equally continue to support marinas, such as Cap Cana’s, that promote the catch and release practice and are committed to the preservation of billfish as the blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish.

Within the framework of the 15^th edition of the International Billfish Tournament, the Cap Cana Classic, Peter Chaibongsai pointed out that among the actions that must be carried out in the region, is the reconstruction of corals to recover some of the coral reef fish population.

The Cap Cana Marina continues to be positioned and recognized worldwide as one of the main destinations in the world for sport fishing and in the release fishing modality, thus contributing to the protection and conservation of billfish, demonstrating the importance of an adequate management of natural resources.

Established as a strictly capture and release marina, it has shown continuous interest and occupation for the protection of these species, promoting and working on a responsible management of fisheries, supporting the resolution 24-2009 issued by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, to prohibit the capture, boarding, exhibition, slaughter and commercialization of marine species in the East Coast, given its economic importance and the decrease of its population.

About Marina Cap Cana: Inaugurated in 2007, the Marina is the heart of Cap Cana, with more than 150 berths available for yachts up to 100 feet and surrounded by approximately 690 residential units. Its privileged location next to the Mona Passage, one of the top ranked billfisheries of the world, placing it in an enviable position in relation to the rest of the Caribbean. Among the complementary services offered by the Cap Cana Marina are the Wi-Fi service, provisioning and catering services upon request at the moorings; customs and immigration services / port entry personnel in the marina, the average depth in the entrance channel is eight feet (2.5 meters), access channel with 20 navigation markers, individual moorings protected with very little tide increase, straight entry channel to facilitate day or night entry, waste oil disposal service, sewage extraction service and captain’s center.