David Cabrera and Jeremiah Benavente are teaching the next generation how to fish. 

"The kids always start out a little...apprehensive but once they get the confidence of knowing it can be done, by the second day you see the enthusiasm and excitement on their face to get back into the water and try and catch some fish," Cabrera told KUAM. 

It’s American Memorial Park’s second year of casting the “Let’s go fishing” summer program on Saipan.  10-15-year-old kids learn how to rod and reel and talaya. They’re the youngest members of the talaya club, which also happens to be the name of the non-profit organization of local fishermen leading the clinic. 

Cabrera said, "The Talaya Club is a nonprofit organization. Our mission is to reinvigorate traditional fishing methods as well as foster informed ocean stewards here in the Marianas."

Stewardship is at the center of their teaching. They spend the morning educating students about best practices before they head into the water. 

He added, "What we are doing is we are trying to perpetuate the skills, the craft of using the talaya. But we are doing it in a way that is establishing some fundamental sustainable fishing practices with our students. If we create an army of talayerus and talayeras but we do not teach them how to do it responsibly with sustainable practice then we are not doing ourselves any favors here in the Marianas."

The program is funded through a grant from the National Park Foundation and involves the junior ranger program and youth interns.

 

 

American Memorial Park ranger Renee Manibusan said, "Really important to start them young..they are asking questions about the environment and conservation. That is really our goal here at the park is to promote conservation and sustainable fishing and teach the youth all the fun things they can do in the park and on our islands."

She added, "So for a lot of them, this is their first time fishing. It is their first time being out in the ocean learning about the different fish we have in our islands, learning about what is dangerous, what we can eat, what we can’t eat, and how to practice sustainable fishing practices too."