Just returned from a week of head to overhead left point waves in a little fishing village in Ecuador named San Mateo. While I was there the local fishermen told me of a plan to put in a commercial tuna dock. This plan includes making a harbor with rock jetties that would eliminate this surf spot for good. It would also change the fishing village into a commercial port rather than a local fishing village. It all has to do with money, the people who want the harbor have money and the people who don’t, well don’t. I posted some pictures as attachments so you could see what’s up. Jim
Thats so called progress, the local authorities stand to make money out of the harbour then the only way they will change there mind is if there is hugh public pressure or they stand to make an equal or greater amount of money from the tourism surfing/water sports brings. if its a spot one of those off the radar unspoiled wilderness locations then the latter will do as much damage as the harbour. If the spot has any flora or forna of spcial interest then thats another angle to swing from but unless its substancial then its going to be hard to make the company in charge (and that stands to make the money) listen.
Its a shame that the spot the village will be ruined, all I can suggest is to make as many people aware of what is going on as possible and start some sort of informed campagin against it.
The place to start is to find out as much infomation about the plans and the site/local area and its effect on all apsects not just surfing, then you can construct some conprahensive argements against the progect, something that will hold more water with the companies concern than just “its going to ruin our waves”. Then see how much support you can drum up, with pertisions and the like.
I’m sure there are plenty of folks here that would sign it.
I surfed San Mateo on my trip to Ecuador, best lefts of my life. I just got an email a couple of weeks ago from my buddy down there telling me of the same situation. It makes me want to cry, it really does…
But that’s progress, especially in the third world. Surfers have zero political power in any place other than the USA, and that’s just the way it is. Look at what has happened in Baja, and that’s right next door to the cradle of surfer activism.
My buddy down there is as connected a local as you could ask for, and he’s doing what he can… But ultimately it will come down to which spot is better for the fishing boats, the one that kills the point, or the one down the beach.
You know the irony? When we had lunch in San Mateo, fishermen were telling us stories about how they used to fill their boats with dorado (mahi-mahi) in an afternoon, twenty years ago… Now, they go out for several days just to catch a couple dozen. Sounds like the time is really ripe for a big influx of capital into the commercial fishing fleet, doesn’t it?
That little town could be a hub of surf tourism, if they made the effort. And that’s a sustainable industry. But again, we’re talking about a third-world country, where short-sightedness is a chronic political affliction. I’m holding out hope to surf SM again, but I’m not holding my breath.
Hey Shwuz…the dorado were back! Boats were coming in with 50-75 dorado along with tuna. Local ponga fishermen do not want this project. The irony of this whole thing is the tuna feet can use the government’s dock in Manta a few miles away but they don’t want to pay the fees. A couple of more pictures for ya! Jim
So… Then who is building the harbor (if it gets built) if not the govt? And if the govt, then won’t they charge fees too? I mean, someone has to pay for all that work somehow, right?
We surfed San Mateo thirty years ago. Had to drive the beach at low tide to get there. My wife was the first woman they had ever seen surf. Fishermen would surf their boats on waves with us and tow us back out to the line up after a long ride. Was a REALLY SMALL town back then. Super nice people with lots of crazy dogs. Great memories. The problem in Ecuador was the rich get what they want the poor get NADA. The other problem was the rich were “surfers” who called the poor, native people “Animales” and treated em like animals. Hope that part has changed, been a long time since we have been there. Hope I can get back someday, there are some spots I still dream about. Although I hear they are crowded now.
