" Good news from the Mediterranean seaside in Spain, in cities well known as Barcelona, Valencia, Mallorca, Ibiza and Cartagena an organization is giving a chance to the bluefin tuna since 2002. The Federacion Mediterranea por una Pesca Responsable (FMPR. Mediterranean Federation for Responsable Angling) is hosting the Desafio Mediterraneo in it's 6th edition. While in the rest of Europe, the tournaments are simply being canceled due to the strict regulations for tuna, the FMPR organizes the best catch & release big game tournaments.
The tournament consists of 9 qualifying events, also important tournaments, all along the Spanish Mediterranean. Each qualifies 3 teams (the first 3) that goes to the Great Desafio Mediterraneo Final. The 27 boats, the best in Spain, celebrate at the final in September and the winner of the Great Final is the one who receives the invitation to IGFA World Championship Tournament in Mexico in 2009.
Annex to the IGFA rules, they have performed even make them more strict. For example, the triple-hook is prohibited and double hooks must be without the 'death' . They have formed the Mediterranean Tutors, a group of more than 200 people, similar to the IGFA Controllers, which function is to check that the rules are being followed and over all they have to measure the fish and take note for the classification.
The anglers are also taught about landing and releasing the fish safely. The FMPR provides elements like nets or afco laces to the captains that don’t already have them.
The species are mainly bluefin tuna, between 20 and 50 kilos. They are fished trolling and despite the strength of the fish, the captains are experts in catching and releasing.
In the Desafio Mediterraneo also are held colaborations with important european organizations like WWF, ICCAT, and also have been colaborating with Lynda Block.
We would like to invite all the international anglers to come to our sea and enjoy releasing one of the strongest fish in the sea.
You can visit www.fmpr.es to view the pictures and provisional classifications and search in YouTube 'Desafio Mediterraneo' .
See you in Mexico!!! "
