Documentary Saves Guitarfish From Argentina Fishing Contest

A documentary just accomplished what years of scientific warnings could not: saving a critically endangered fish from one of the biggest fishing tournaments in South America.

The guitarfish was removed from the 24 Hours of the Black Corvina competition in Argentina this February, marking the first time in the contest's 63-year history that organizers excluded a species. The decision came directly from the impact of "Pescadores & Guitarras," a 28-minute documentary by Jumara Films.

The tournament draws 6,000 anglers to the coastal town of Claromecó each year. It's considered the continent's most important rod fishing competition.

The guitarfish, also called the violin fish, was practically unknown to most people. These animals come to Buenos Aires coasts only during breeding season, when females give birth to between four and seven offspring per cycle.

A year before the tournament ban, the documentary team participated in the 2025 contest and filmed the capture of more than seven guitarfish. Every single one was pregnant.

Director Mariano Fernández and his team followed two marine biologists into the world of recreational and artisanal fishing. They mixed academic science with local fishing knowledge and added something unusual for a conservation film: humor.

"We wanted to tell a conservation story with a fresh and approachable style, with touches of humor, to reach more people," Fernández explained. The approach worked better than anyone expected.

The Ripple Effect

The documentary created more than just awareness. It built connections between fishermen, biologists, and tournament organizers who had never collaborated before.

A citizen science network formed along the southern Buenos Aires coast, with local anglers measuring, photographing, and tagging specimens. Fishermen became conservation partners instead of obstacles.

Producer Juan María Raggio says the team is proud of the concrete impact. "Achieving the exclusion of the guitarfish from the tournament is a concrete step for the conservation of a critically endangered species."

The guitarfish's slow reproductive cycle and low population renewal rate make it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure. Protecting pregnant females during breeding season could be the difference between survival and extinction.

Tournament organizers set a precedent for how massive sporting events in Argentina can integrate environmental management. They proved that dialogue between filmmakers, scientists, and communities generates real, measurable change.

Sometimes the best conservation tool isn't a law or regulation, but a story that helps people see what's at stake.