Last month we headed up North for our workshop with the fishermen, very excited for training them in our expertise! Last time we registered fishermen that owned a boat and wanted to participate in the project. So this time we summoned only the registered fishermen for the training.

We wanted to train them in Conservation and Biology of Mantas, but we had a hard time figuring out how to get them interested in the subject. We decided we were going to introduce it as “what tourist expect you to know about Mantas” and “information you have to give about Conservation”. So first we talked about what tourists expect when they pay for an Ecotourism experience. We highlighted the importance of Conservation and Information. So then our Manta Ray Researcher trained them on the Biology of Manta Rays and why it is so important to protect them; they were interested in what we had to say about Manta Rays! Afterwards, we trained them in how to communicate with tourists and the different kinds of communication.

We also presented to them the Risk Assessment we did on the project and the calendar of activities for the rest of the year. One of the most interesting activities we did was the “Business Plan” discussion. We divided the participants in two groups. Each group had to do a small business plan, writing their vision, mission and objectives. Afterwards we discussed and synthesized all their ideas into a concise business plan for them.

Previously to our trip, our camp coordinator had visited each registered fisherman to inspect their boats to see what kind of improvement they needed to do, to be able to give this service. In some cases, they just needed to put shades and seating, in other cases they needed to paint it, repair or do maintenance to the infrastructure.

We gave the fishermen some chores for next time: have a quote on how much the necessary improvements in their boats might cost, bring copies of the registration of their boats, among other things.

During the next few days we had meetings with the Regional Direction of Tourism, they explained to us the requirements for an operating license, which were a bit harder to meet than we thought; and invited a representative of the fishermen to a Tourism Training they are giving next month.

We also met with a Tourism Professor of a Regional Institute. He had some tips to give us for doing tourism business in the area; gave us a broad idea of how some of the aquatic tourism worked. He also told his students about the project and told us some of them are interested in becoming volunteers and help us out with the project!

We had the chance to go to Máncora, which is a very touristy beach nearby. We visited several Tourism Agencies doing research on them to know if they offered any other Ecotourism services or were interested in Sustainability practices. Since it is our goal that the fishermen give sustainable services, we want to have allies that are involved in the subject. Out of the dozens of Agencies in town, we only found a couple that are committed to sustainability and that look like potential allies that could work with the fishermen. So we are going to contact them later on to form business partnerships once the fishermen are ready to offer the service.

Our next meeting with the fishermen will be on the first week of September. For then, we will design a commitment letter they will sign, promising sustainable practices; and a guide on how to approach Manta Ray sites and how swimmers may or may not interact with Manta Rays.