By Jon Ingi Agustsson
Posted Monday, August 31, 2009
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Asian Angling Adventures announces that the first "Fly-Fishing Only, Catch & Release" destination in S.E. Asia will open in October 2009. This is both a fisheries conservation and an eco-tourism project. It is based on a business / community partnership between Asian Angling Adventures and the Karen people in remote valleys around Mae Sariang, in Mae Hong Son Province, north-western Thailand.
 For over 5 years, a local Thai guide has been working with Karen village headmen in an effort to establish a sustainable tourism-based income. Earlier this year, he was joined by two international fly fishing guides with extensive experience in fishing New Zealand, Iceland, Chile, Argentina and Russia. The Asian Angling Adventures team have since been working hard to negotiate access contracts to establish this new "Fly-Fishing Only, Catch & Release" eco-tourism project.
According to the company's founder, Jon Ingi, "Asian Angling Adventures goal is to help the Karen people utilise their fisheries resources in a sustainable manner." Via catch & release, fish stocks within the long-established protection zones can be harnessed to directly generate revenue for the villages. This is to be achieved by multiple means. First, by payment of fisheries access fees for each protection zone. In addition, local Karen staff are being trained as guides, boatmen, porters, chefs, maximising the inflow of money to the broadest possible range of people.
 All possible consumable requirements such as fruit and vegetables will be purchased from local farms. Delightful cultural shows by school children will provide an evening's entertainment, and earn much needed funds for the schools. Viability of establishing a fly-tying factory within this area is also being assessed. The goal is to increase local employment opportunities, thereby strengthening the company's long-term relationship with the Karen people. We believe this will be a real win-win project for the Karen people, Asian Angling Adventures, and our future fishing clients.
Operations manager and ex-New Zealand fly fishing guide Ben Kemp says, "Fly fishing opportunities include large free-stone rivers with fish of up to 30kgs, river headwaters and small, boulder-strewn mountain streams with fish of 1 - 5kgs." These are all tributaries of the mighty Salween River, which flows 2400 kms from the Himalayan Plateau, through China, Myanmar and Thailand to the Andaman Sea. Premium fish available are Mahseer (Golden, Blue & Thai)
of 1 to 30+ kgs, and these fish behave exactly like huge brown trout, accepting dry flies, nymphs and streamers. For more details, see www.asian-angling-adventures.com or contact the company directly.
Asian Angling Adventures Co. Ltd.
114/2 Moo 4, Thumbon Padad,
Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai, 50100,
Thailand
Website: www.Asian-Angling-Adventures.com
Sales Manager: Jon Ingi Agustsson: +66 81-025-9415 or jon@AsianAnglingAdventures.com
Operations Manager: Ben Kemp: +66 82 892-7380 or ben@Asian-Angling-Adventures.com
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