Manta, Ecuador ‘Tuna Fishing Capital of the World’

Manta is situated almost on the equator, only108 km south of it to be precise, on the coast of Western Ecuador, and the fabled Galápagos Islands, an archipelago belonging to Ecuador, are 1,000 km directly west of Manta.
Ecuador is bordered to the north by Colombia, and to the south and east, by Peru.
Manta has been inhabited since pre Colombian times, its history dates back to around 3,000 BC and has a  current population of around 260,000.

Manta claims to be the ‘tuna capital of the world’.
It is the largest sea port in Ecuador, the main port for tuna fishing in the Eastern Pacific and has the largest fishing fleet in South America.

To put this information into perspective and perhaps validate this claim to ‘fame’, in the first 7 months of 2019, 105,000 tones of canned tuna were exported, not including the additional many tonnes of flash frozen, unprocessed tuna and other fish species.
Although there is a period of time, close to 3 months, when no tuna fish are harvested, but even with this concession to fish propagation and survival, I do not believe that catching these immense quantities of fish is sustainable.

Yesterday we took the opportunity to experience Manta’s tropical climate and spent a major part of  the day strolling and sight seeing. Fortunately the sky was over cast, with no direct, intense sun to make our day too uncomfortable. The weather could be best described as sultry, very close to 30 C and much like being in a steam room. Regardless, with regular stops for sips and rests, we walked the better part of 10km and arrived back at the ship a little tired but well satisfied with our explorations.

We walked the footpath bordering the bay - The Malecon - and saw a couple of giant Green Turtles, watched the vultures clean up the beach, of fish scraps left by the smaller fishing boats, watched a lady making/hand weaving a toquilla straw Panama Hat, visited a small market and visited the local beach. We also sought out vanilla extract to restock our baking supplies at home - a bargain at just over $1 US for a 300 ml bottle.

Trivia Question: Where do Panama hats come from?
Answer - The original hand woven straw hats are an Ecuadorian invention, but they acquired their name because, like many other South American products, during the 19th century they were exported via the isthmus of Panama.

Another interesting export is tree ivory. This is a nut which comes from the Tagua Palm, is the same shape as a Kiwi fruit but is 5 or 6 cms in diameter and 10 to 12 cms long, and after harvesting, and drying, it becomes so very hard that it can be carved into jewelry, brooches, buttons and the like.

In the later afternoon, two very tired but contented travellers returned to their ship for a welcome
tepid shower and a cold local ‘beverage’ - another bargain $1 US per can.

Factory ship - goes to sea until its holds are full and flash freezes the catch as they go. 

They began unloading this boat at 8:00am, worked all day and at around 6:00pm had only emptied 3 of the four holds.

Deep sea trawler tuna boat - note the helicopter on deck, for spotting shoals of fish from the air.

Local fishermen leaving the beach after having just completed the sale of their catch.

Local inshore fishing catch - vendor buys right out of the boats.

Tribute to the historical reliance on the ocean to provide food.

This a great way to incentivize the recycling of empty beverage containers - help fill the receptacle 

Locals at the beach - everyone in the shade of a beach canopy.

Indigenous woman weaving a ‘Panama’ hat.