Apia, 1 May 2023(TDI): Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, started the Samoa International Game Fishing Association (SIGFA) 2023 International Tournament on Saturday at the SIGFA offices in Apia’s Marina.
In this event, local and international anglers worldwide will battle for the championship title throughout the forthcoming week, from May 1 to May 6, 2023.
The courageous fishermen and women returning from the deep sea, those who helped make the competition possible, and family and friends hoping for the seafarer’s safe return are all depicted in an old Samoan adage that Prime Minister Fiame quoted during her opening comments.
In the framework of this competition, the first canoe, which makes its way home after a fishing trip, stands in for the courageous fishermen and fisherwomen who have just returned from the deep sea.
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The second canoe stands for everyone who helped make this competition possible and is berthed in the lagoon.
The third canoe stands in for the family and friends who pray for the seafarer’s safe return home and is positioned in the boat shelter on the shore. All three of these ‘canoes’ are in this place.
Fiame emphasized that the competition offers a chance to compete and recognize, and Samoa govt signals protect Samoa’s abundant marine biodiversity.
She also praised SIGFA for its commitment to promoting ethical sport fishing methods and urging its members to release all billfish, including marlin, sailfish, and other vulnerable, threatened species like giant trevally.
The Government of Samoa has been a staunch supporter of SIGFA ever since its founding in 1998, most recently via the Samoa International Finance Authority, according to Fiame.
Over the years, the Samoa Ports Authority, Customs, Quarantine, and Immigration departments have supported SIGFA in bringing boats from abroad to compete internationally.
The Government of Samoa is steadfastly devoted to safeguarding our marine resources and encouraging ethical fishing with our local fishing community. Thanks to this, future generations will continue to enjoy our abundant waterways.
This year’s competition is particularly noteworthy since it acts as a qualifying event for the famous Offshore World Championship Tournament (OWC), hosted in Costa Rica, and because it brings back foreign anglers after a three-year absence due to the epidemic.
