From November 1 to May 1, the fishing season opens, reported Jerónimo Cantón, president of the Association of Fishing Guides in Chubut. And in this sense “we are working with Inland Fisheries personnel on schemes where we can expand the offer of fishing destinations for more months of the year, to include, for example, the ski season,” he declared. This project involves technical studies that must be carried out for its implementation.
Recently in Esquel a suitability exam was carried out to evaluate whether aspiring fishing guides had the necessary skills to enter the course at the University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco.
Of the 210 attendees at the training, 110 were selected. “This means that there are many people interested in the fishing industry, an activity that has been seen as a viable job option for the last 20 years,” Canton said. “With a greater supply of qualified and professional fishing guides, we can hope to attract more tourists, as long as we also have hotel beds, adequate regulations and care for the environment and resources.”
He also indicated that those who pass the course at the university will be able to work in the season if they meet the additional requirements of the province’s Ministry of Tourism. It should be noted that the majority of applicants come from Esquel and Trevelin.
PROFESSIONAL FISHING GUIDE CAREER
Jerónimo Cantón also announced that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism of the province, directed by Diego Lapena, and the University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco, work is being done on the creation of the first professional fishing guide career in the world. . “We seek to further professionalize the activity and create a career that attracts people from all over Argentina to study at Esquel,” he stated. Currently, they are evaluating whether the degree will be a diploma, technical degree or under what framework it will be developed within the university.
TOURIST INVESTMENTS IN ESQUEL
Cantón referred to the importance of having a favorable framework for tourism investment in Esquel. “There has been no promotion for many years, only isolated efforts from the private sector. If the State offers a beneficial framework to invest, these investments stay in the town, generating jobs and more investment,” he explained finally.
