THE sport of fishing, a time-honored tradition in the CNMI, may help boost the flagging local economy amid a global pandemic.
A fisherman, left, hands an amberjack to an event organizer during the Wahoo in the Marianas tournament held on March 6, 2021 at the Smiling Cove Marina.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
According to surveys conducted by the Saipan International Fishing Tournament in 2019, CNMI and Guam anglers who competed in the two-day event infused approximately $150,000 into the local economy. The participants spent money on car rentals, hotel accommodations, fuel, food and drinks, entertainment and more.
“It is no different with our other local fishing events,” Tasi to Table vice president Wayne Pangelinan said.
The 2nd Annual Wahoo in the Marianas held on March 6, 2021 circulated over $35,000 in the local economy, he added.
“Mind you, because it is a local one-day event, there were no costs associated with car rentals and hotel accommodations as with the 2019 two-day event,” he said.
“But participants still had to buy fuel in bulk, food, drinks and ice, among other things. Fishing equipment was also added to their expenses: lures, lines, swivels, hooks, sleeves, skirts, etc. Essentially, events within the lagoon or offshore fishing account for a good amount of business activity and they benefit the Commonwealth,” he added.
Pangelinan said Wahoo in the Marianas 2021 “was a great success and it gave back to the community economically while instilling great values among the students who organized the tournament. They learned and applied organizational, leadership, marketing and PR skills while working with each other.”
Will there be another Wahoo in the Marianas in 2022?
“You can be sure that the students, advisors, Tasi to Table and sponsors Mobil Oil Marianas and IT&E will say yes!”
This year’s event organizers were Tasi to Table students from Marianas High School, Da’ok Academy, Saipan Southern High School and Kagman High School.
They would like to extend their appreciation to all the other companies that supported this year’s tournament through generous donations: the Bank of Saipan, Robert T. Torres Law Firm, Pacific Trading Co., Roil Soil Clothing, 4EVER CNMI, Pacific Engineering Group & Services, GR Construction, Mercury Marine, Coral Reef Marine Center, Advance Marine Saipan, Marpac Distributors, Chong’s Corporation, McDonald’s Saipan and JC Development.
