Una Patagon1a: Uniting & Repositioning the Region, Collaboratively

Patagonia is a place of rare beauty and unique fishing possibilities – but as with most other places in the world an active conservational policy is needed to preserve its legacy – and that requires cooperation!

By FRANCISCO MARIANI

It was the year 1999, and – as usual - January was a prime fishing month for us. This time, we decided to make it all the way down to the Alerces National Park and start our fishing trip in that magical place, driving down to meet Rio Pico’s legend, Mr. Paulino Arias. After some enjoyable fishing in the picturesque Lago 3, Rio Pico and Rio Corcovado we then decided it was time to head South, to the searun brown trout paradise of Estancia Maria Behety.

It was a long trip to be honest, but full of joy. We were sharing the car with good fishing friends and between big slurps of mate, fish tales were being told. Way before reaching the Tierra del Fuego, we decided to turn off and try our luck with the other prime searun brown trout destination we have here in Argentina: The Rio Gallegos. After a few days spent on the Rio Gallegos, we then decided it was time to head to Tierra del Fuego.

In order to get to the Island, while you are driving in Argentina, you have to clear 4 customs as the Magellan´s Channel blocks any direct crossing within the country. First customs encounter is when getting out of Argentina, then another one to get into Chile. After a few hours of driving, you then cross over with a Ferry to get to the island. There, you need to clear the 3rd custom to leave Chile while passing through the fourth in order to get back into Argentina. Now, finally, you’re on the Tierra del Fuego island.

In most other civilized border zones across the globe, this shouldn’t be a big deal. But believe me, in this part of the world it is! Argentinians and Chileans were somehow pulled apart by the Malvinas War back in the early Eighties and things are further complicated by the fact that many Argentinians now feel like the Chileans are opportunist Patagonian invaders. Because of this, it’s hard to unite people across the borders – even though they share the same interests, ideas and visions.

I’m a passionate 37-year old fly fisherman, who has been fly fishing and exploring the region since I was 9 years old. Almost all my life, I have been dreaming about bringing these two countries together.

Fly Fishing has become my very effective tool in this pursuit. With the simple idea of bringing together the best Patagonian destinations in a UNION, my Una Patagon1a project is working to reposition the region globally, open new opportunities for trip combinations for modern fly fishermen, managing the fishing pressure in different areas, and creating our own selling force as a Union – one that will direct 5% of all commissions to conservation work within the region.

This way, we are hoping to create a complimentary circle where lodges will be able to provide a wide range of options for visiting fishermen, who have the chance, so far, of catching at least 9 different salmonid species within the same Patagonia region.

And hopefully they will also find pleasure and appeal in knowing that when they stay at one of the Una Patagon1a lodges, they will be channelling money in to conservation and sustainability work, which will ultimately help protect and improve the Patagonian fisheries for generations to come.

Una Patagon1a is an innovative initiative within the fly fishing industry, aiming to use the power of a collective to generate a complementary circle.

At present, Una Patagon1a has brought together 10 of the best lodges in the Argentinian side of Patagonia. They seek to reposition the region collaboratively by sharing experiences and communicating our destinations from locals with great knowledge of our resources. They aim to enhance value by creating combinations of different lodges and fish species.

The most important and distinctive aspect of this alliance is that 5% of the sales commissions done through the Una Patagon1a office will go toward conservation initiatives within the region. Collaboration enables individuals to work together to achieve a defined and common business purpose.

For more info:

http://www.unapatagon1a.com