54th Ernest Hemingway International Tournament Underway in Cuba

Despite the U.S. government´s fierce opposition and blockade, one of the most relevant sporting events of the Cuban calendar, the Ernest Hemingway International Sports Fishing Tournament, was held this week, with the participation of 17 boats with fishermen from six different countries.

Commodore José M. Díaz Escrich, director of Havana´s International Hemingway Nautical Club, said more than 2,000 sports fishing enthusiasts received intimidating letters from the U.S. Treasury Department this year. This further hurt the competition and friendly bonds between U.S. and Cuban fishermen given that it is well known that the majority of competitors comes from the United States.

"This tournament, although more modest than in previous years when 50 vessels have participated, has not been any less impressive nor important. The International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) has already approved it as a qualifying event for the final scoring of the sporting year," Díaz Escrich affirmed.

The organizers of the current competition indicated that another two important events that traditionally take place in the island each year, the International Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament from September 20-25 and the International Wahoo Fishing Tournament from November 8-12, will be held as scheduled. The world sports fishing community has been invited to participate.

One of the main reasons that these important fishing events take place in the Cuban archipelago is for the exceptional conditions provided by its geographical position embracing the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf Stream and the Caribbean Sea as well as the large and varied populations of game fish. Besides this, the Marina Hemingway, in western Havana, provides 400 moorings, over 180 with on-board facilities, and more than 500 rooms in modern hotels in the Marina area.