Quepos Disaster

[Legend]

I received this message from Professor Ehrhardt yesterday regarding TS Alma that struck the Central Pacific shoreline of Costa Rica. The information is true, as confirmed by the Luna Fleet last evening. 11 boats were sunk, their’s were slightly damaged.

Dear Al,

Last week while working in the Quepos area on the University of Miami/CABA/University of Costa Rica billfish socio-economic study I met with all the very enthusiastic stakeholders in the region. Unfortunately, a tropical storm formed in the area and we had to alt the work.

However, the purpose of this note is to let you know that the storm brought huge destruction to the sport fishing fleet in Quepos. Twelve vessels were lost and many more were badly damaged. Below please find a desperate note (in Spanish) just sent to me by a good friend and great collaborator, Raul Miranda from Costa Mar. The attached photos explain the tragedy.

Is there a way we can help? Is there a way that we can provide support? It is really incredible that this storm impact did not truly appear in any of the local news.

I am moving tomorrow to the Golfito area where fortunately there was no such an impact.

Best regards

Nelson Ehrhardt
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Raul Miranda Soto" <fishraulquepos@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, June 3, 2008 10:00 am
To: "Nelson Ehrhardt" <nehrhardt@rsmas.miami.edu>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hola Sr Ehrhardt espero que estes bien y que sigas el con el estudio que estas realizando en Costa Rica que es algo que estabamos esperando hace mucho tiempo. Estos dias en Costa Rica tuvimos una tormenta que afecto a mucho al Pacifico central nosotros sufrimos las perdidas de aproximadamente 12 embarcaciones que se hundieron y el resto que sobrevivieron estan seriamente dañadas en esa lista esta mi embarcacion Fishing Machine que tambien se hundio. Como tu viste en Quepos mucha gente > depende de este sector espero que talvez nos puedas colaborar ya sea enviando esta informacion a personas que nos puedan dar soporte porque fueron muchas las amilias que quedaron sin ingresos. Te envio fotos del dias que sucedio esa catastrofemuchas Gracias RAUL MiRANDA SOTOCOSTA QUEPOS,COSTA RICA PHONE:506 2777-05-93

Nelson Ehrhardt
Professor
Marine Biology and Fisheries Division
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
1-305-421-4741 off
nehrhardt@rsmas.miami.edu

[Seth]

Wow, that is tragic. The storms last week were unreal. We usually don't see action like that until later in the year. Do you have the pictures mentioned in Nelson's note?

[OnTheFlats]

Here is another detailed account of what happened:

http://www.queposfishingreport.com/

at least no one was hurt or killed - that is the one bright spot....

[Legend]

I don't see the attachment section, otherwise I would have included it like I did elsewhere. http://www.theburningreel.com/forums...-disaster.html

[OnTheFlats]

This came in over the wire from TBF...


The Billfish Foundation has established a Quepos Sportfishing Community Survival Fund to encourage donations that will go directly to assist the captains and families affected by the damage caused from Tropical Storm Alma. If you can, please send donations to The Billfish Foundation, 2161 E. Commercial Blvd, 2nd floor, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308. Please indicate that the contribution is for QSCSF.

[Legend]

Actually mine was dated Thursday.

"Tropical Storm Alma Batters Quepos Sportfishing Fleet


Last Thursday a rare Pacific Tropical Storm (Alma) hit Costa Rica and other countries in Central America. Flooding was extensive in Costa Rica, destroying thousands of homes, damaging 100 bridges and causing extensive damage to the sportfishing fleet in Quepos. Ten vessels were sunk and 18 more severely damaged. The devastation to the sportfishing fleet has left over 200 local people without any immediate source of income.

TBF has established a Quepos Sportfishing Community Survival Fund to encourage donations that will go directly to assist these individuals through the immediate hard times. If you can, please send a donation to:

The Billfish Foundation
2161 E. Commercial Blvd, 2nd Floor
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308
Please indicate that the contribution is for the QSCSF.

ALL FUNDS WILL BE SENT TO HELP THE SPORTFISHING COMMUNITY IN QUEPOS, COSTA RICA!"

[Legend]

"We lost our boat of 28 feet, called "Blue Pearl I". In the storm, 10 boats sank, among them was our "Blue Pearl I". Now we are working with our 32 feet "Blue Pearl II" only. But my boss wil buy another boat similar to Blue Pearl I.

The complete list of the boats lost in Quepos are: Precedent (36'), Fishing Machine (34'), Tigger Shark (32'), Blue Pearl I (28'), Wahoo (28'), On the Fly (28'), Water Rats (26'), Pez Rey (26'), King Pink (?)... and I don't remember the last name.

Thank you very much for to ask."
Regards,
Sissi Andía Espinoza
BLUE PEARL SPORTFISHING

Blue Pearl I & II, were the old Flounder I (27ft GW) & II (32ft Hatteras)

[Kinembe]

Folks, here is a really good photo gallery of the carnage and sinking boats...
Quepos Disaster Photos

[Seth]

the devastation is amazing. the wild thing is you can sea the wall erected to protect the boats from the sea surge, but when the water comes from inland there is no hope. the amount of rain we get here is head scratching. it must have rained a foot this past week. thank God for no more TS's