The 26th Annual Offshore Fishing Championships (XXVI Edicion Campeonato de Pesca de Altura) from July 28-30 in the extremely prolific billfishing arena of the Canary Islands will also be the back drop for the promotion of The Billfish Foundations' global conservation efforts.

"As a world class blue marlin destination the Canary Islands' are dedicated to sportfishing tourism as a means to promote fisheries conservation as well as economic well being of communities," said TBF Science and Policy Specialist Elliott Stark who will be attending. "This is an increasingly important means of empowering fisheries conservation policy on national and international scales. TBF is proud to be able to work with the Club de Pesca de Altura de Gran Canaria (Offshore Fishing Club of Grand Canary) to promote conservation and sportfishing tourism."

While in Gran Canaria, Stark will discuss TBF's ongoing fisheries conservation programs in Europe and throughout the Atlantic basin. Specific topics include sportfishing tourism, tagging and fisheries conservation issues, and representation of sportfishing interests in the management process. TBF is hard at work with the European sportfishing community, including the Canary Islands, to empower continued conservation strives.

The foundation recently launched the TBF Experience-- a worldwide membership drive-- with a special prize package for TBF's members from European countries. The Canary Islands are showcased as the winner, whose name will be drawn January 15, 2012, will join TBF for two days of blue marlin fishing in the waters around the island of La Gomera with Capt. Jason Pipe and Bocinegro Blue Marlin Fishing Charters.

For more information on fishing in the productive, large blue marlin fishery in the waters of the Canary Islands please contact club spokeswoman Silvia Valencia Trujillo by phone at 00 34 635056018 or via e-mail at Silvia@clubpescadealturadegrancanaria.org .. The club's website is located at: www.clubpescadealturadegrancanaria.org , or its Facebook page at: Pesca Altura-Gran Canaria.