The purpose of this article is to clarify the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce position, purpose and mission of the upcoming World's Richest Tarpon Tournament & Festival Weekend scheduled May 17-20.
We believe everyone should be allowed to enjoy the spectacular sport fishing we have in Boca Grande Pass, throughout Charlotte Harbor, the back country and the surrounding region.
Our area has been labeled the "Tarpon Capital of the World" for more than a century and rightly so. Sport fisherman the world over have visited and vacationed here in search of the unequaled experience of doing battle with the mighty Silver King.
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As executive director at the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce, one of my goals is to strengthen and promote the financial growth and well-being of the local businesses in order to sustain a healthy community. It's a task not so easily carried out sometimes, especially in a challenging economy.
In addition we see the constant threat of damage and destruction to the natural beauty and wildlife habitats that surround us and recognize that they can not and should not be looked upon as a cost of doing business. Exploitation of natural resources in the name of progress and financial gain leaves us a great deal poorer in the end.
Here at the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce we are blessed with a unique opportunity to address both issues by promoting an eco-tourism event that encourages the motivation for conservation powered by the business community.
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Lew Hastings can be reached at (941) 964-0568, info@bocagrandechamber.com or go to worldsrichesttarpon.com.
Our mission of Conservation, Education and Sportsmanship takes Boca Grande's world-famous moniker of Tarpon Capital of the World and the Boca Grande Chamber's signature World's Richest Tarpon Tournament and uses them to create a vehicle where we can build small business by educating residents and visitors alike about the importance of protecting our ecosystems.
Education and conservation of the fishery combined with sport fishing will be the primary focus. Safe boating, sportsmanship and responsible angling will be promoted in order to encourage a safe, successful family friendly event that will ensure the protection and proper stewardship of our natural resources so that they may be enjoyed for generations to come.
The urgency toward conservation has become increasingly apparent over the last few years and the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to taking the lead in creating opportunities to help rehabilitate a habitat that has flourished in Southwest Florida for thousands of years.
Our AllRelease, No-Weigh, No-Kill tournaments are an alternative whose time has come. Bringing families together in sport and education strengthens not only our estuaries and fisheries, but enriches our community as a whole.
Recent studies, such as the one Tony Fedler prepared for the Everglades Foundation concerning the significant economic and environmental impact recreational fishing has on our communities, make conservation for a sustainable fishery not only preferable but necessary.
We are proud to have the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Lee and Charlotte county visitor and convention bureaus as major supporters and have tapped the expertise of scientists and research of the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Mote Marine Laboratory, FWC, Lemon Bay Conservancy and other conservation organizations to help produce an important collectable magazine that will not only commemorate this historic tournament but educate the public on the importance of our place in the environment and how we all can be a part of the solution.
This event is being brought back as an economic generator to help all of our surrounding communities and businesses hit so hard by the recent economic downturn. By creating a world-class eco-tourism event promoting conservation, SW Florida can lead by example and be the model for other areas around the world looking for ways to educate and execute proper stewardship of our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.
Lew Hastings can be reached at (941) 964-0568, info@bocagrandechamber.com or go to worldsrichesttarpon.com.
