IGFA Representatives
Europe and the Mediterranean Region
DENMARK
Omar Bo Gade
Danish born, but raised in Italy, Omar is an eclectic flyfishing industry insider. For the last 15 years, he has combined his studies and professional background as a visual communication freelancer, with his passion for fishing and travel. He collaborated with tackle manufacturers, shops, and several insiders of the sport fishing industry, and over the years, he has visited many distant flyfishing destinations. Omar has written numerous articles for European fishing publications and books, and in 2013, he founded the Denmark Fishing and Outdoor Lodge in Fyn, Denmark. As a flyfishing guide, he has become an avid ambassador for sea-run brown trout. Besides being engaged every year for some months at the lodge, Omar also spearheads several other fishing tourism projects.
EGYPT
Adham E. Lebshetain
Captain Lebshetain was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1960. Following his graduation, he began a career that would take him sailing around the world and visiting over 50 different marine ports. Through his travels, he became increasingly conscious of the importance of marine life preservation and conservation. Today, Captain Lebshetain is retired, which allows him to dedicate much of his time to the promotion of sport fishing and educating future generations on the importance of conservation. As an active member of Alexandria's Fishing Club and Yacht Club, he was elected as a member of the board of the Egyptian Fishing Federation under the presidency of IGFA Trustee Mohamed Kaddah.
Khaled El Bahtimy
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Khaled has always been captivated by the sport of fishing and has participated in numerous angling events at an early age through his membership in both The Alexandria Yacht Club and The Alexandria Fishing Club. Today, he works closely with the Egyptian Angling Federation as a sponsor of the 7th Mediterranean Sea Fishing Competition, which will include a Junior Category with the goal of attracting and educating a new generation of anglers. As an IGFA Representative, Khaled's goals are to further angler education efforts in the region to help create conservation-minded, ethical anglers that will help ensure a future for the sport in years to come.
Ahmed Mitkees
Ahmed Mitkees started fishing with his father on the Nile River when he was only four years old. Since then, he has grown to have a successful fishing career, ranking as one of Egypt's top anglers and representing the country in various international angling events. His passion for angling led him to establish Red Sea Anglers, a sportfishing charter and tackle company that was one of the first fishing operations to practice catch and release practices in the region. Through Red Sea Anglers, Ahmed has helped organize more than 30 tournaments in the past ten years in collaboration with the Egyptian Angling Federation. In addition, he organized the first international popping, jigging, and trolling tournament in Egypt in 2022. Ahmed looks forward to expanding the sport through additional international angling competitions in the region.
Omar Khalifa
Omar Khalifa is an IGFA World Record Holder and fishing enthusiast who has competed on a local and international tournaments for several years. Growing up, Omar used to fish the Nile and occasionally the Mediterranean but his love for the sport blossomed when he moved to El Gouna. There he began to learn from the best fishermen around and took his hobby to a new level. Omar has now competed in several national competitions and represented Egypt in two Big Game World Championships (France 2018 & South Africa 2019). As an IGFA Representative, Omar's goal is to help promote the sport through theoretical and practical courses.
Mohamed S. El-Sehrawy
Gieza, Egypt
Mohamed El-Sehrawy began fishing in Egypt's Suez Gulf when he was five years old. He progressed to a small boat and soon began fishing offshore of Port Said. In 1969, he joined the biggest fishing club in Egypt at the time, The Egyptian Shooting & Fishing Club, where he served as a board member. He joined the IGFA in 1978 and founded the Egyptian Angling Federation in 1983 to better promote IGFA principles of ethical angling. He continues to promote fishing in his country, working with local governments and agencies to educate anglers about sustainable fishing.
Karim Sherif
Karim Sherif was first introduced to the sport by his father when he was only 4 years old. His passion for the sport grew with the years and today he is recognized as one of the top anglers in Egypt having won several fishing national titles and competitions. In 2010, Karim founded 'Bluefin- Sport Fishing', one of the first Fishing Clubs in the region to join as an IGFA Fellow Club. He has organized several fishing trips and camps for adults and youth alike to help promote sportfishing in the country. In 2019, Karim founded 'Bluefin: Fishing Academy', the first IGFA Strategic Partner in Education in the middle- east. Karim continues to work with the IGFA in the promotion of the sport and ethical angling practices with the aim of creating new generations of conservation-minded anglers in Egypt and beyond.
Hany Sadek
Hany Sadek is a well-known name in the sport fishing community in Egypt. He is the co-founder of Red Sea Anglers, which was one of the first companies to organize sport fishing events in Egypt. Hany's passion for fishing began at a very young age and over the years. Apart from being a successful fisherman and entrepreneur, Hany is also a marine conservation activist. He has been actively involved in various initiatives to protect marine life and promote sustainable fishing practices. Hany's reach extends beyond social media platforms and mainstream media, where he has been featured in numerous articles and interviews. Hany's dedication to marine conservation has earned him a great deal of respect and admiration from the community, which he has used to raise awareness about the need to protect the fragile marine ecosystem.
ESTONIA
Endrik Tõnsberg
Tallinn, Estonia
Since 2003, Endrik Tonsberg has served as the chairman of the Estonian Sport Fishing Federation-- a not-for-profit organization representing the interests of the Estonian sport fishing community in Estonia and Europe. Tonsberg is a passionate angler and committed to the promotion of ethical and conservation-oriented fishing practices.
FINLAND
Pekka Salo
Helsinki, Finland
Journalist/photographer Pekka Salo started fishing at a young age, later traveling to top fishing spots in Europe, Asia, and North, Central and South America. Salo's work has been published in some of the world's most renowned fishing magazines. He currently writes for Metsästys ja Kalastus (Hunting and Fishing) magazine in his home country of Finland.
FRANCE
Gregory Tordjeman
Philippe Dolivet
Commana, Brittany, France
Philippe Dolivet is the former Editor-in-Chief of Plaisirs de la Pêche-- the magazine of French fly-fishing. He has extensive fly fishing experience as a guide, journalist and photographer in more than 35 countries around the world. His understanding of European fly-fishing is tremendous, encompassing trout, grayling, Atlantic salmon, pike, sea bass, carp, shad, and largemouth bass. A professional guide and instructor, Dolivet lives in Brittany where he promotes IGFA's mission and vision as often as possible and is a reference for anyone wanting to know more about the IGFA's fly fishing rules and world record application process.
Guillaume Fourrier
Guillaume Fourrier is a distinguished fishing guide, journalist, photographer, record-holder, and angler from France. As an IGFA Captain since 2024, he guides clients on fishing trips off the coast of Normandy, targeting species such as bass, pollack, turbot, ray, and bream. Guillaume holds 28 fishing records, including 5 IGFA World Records, 7 EFSA European Records, and 16 FFPS French Records. A former lifeguard on the French coast and Corsica, he has expanded his fishing expertise worldwide, including in Europe, New Caledonia, Africa, Japan, and the Caribbean. Guillaume has participated in Atlantic bluefin tuna tagging programs with the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) and Spanish scientists. He is the author of 14 fishing books and a regular contributor to French fishing magazines. His marketing career includes roles at Sakura and Daiwa, where he developed products and managed marketing for the European market.
ITALY
Chiara Gambardella
Chiara Gambardella is a PhD student in marine biology based in Italy, with a strong focus on conservation, quantitative ecology, and innovative fieldwork techniques. Her research centers on large pelagic species, and she is part of an international team studying the ecology of major predatory sharks in the Mediterranean Sea, including the white shark and shortfin mako, using integrated approaches that encompass fishing. In addition to her research, Chiara serves as a National Observer for bluefin tuna and swordfish and is an avid fishing enthusiast. She is deeply interested in implementing sustainable fishing practices and involving the recreational fishing community in marine conservation efforts. Over the past few years, Chiara has been actively raising awareness about the importance of preserving marine environments and protecting large pelagic species in the Mediterranean region.
Enrico Capozzi
Milan, Italy
Enrico Capozzi has been a professional angler since the mid 1970s and his travels have taken him to every continent and every ocean on the planet. Capozzi holds world records in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and has over 10,000 billfish releases. He is an active promoter of conservation and as an IGFA Representative is committed to the promotion of the sport and IGFA rules.
Luca Bonfanti
Milan, Italy
Luca Bonfanti has held two IGFA world records for dentex and one for dusky grouper. He was also the first to deploy a satellite tag on a Mediterranean spearfish during the IGFA Great Marlin Race. The Billfish Foundation honored him as top tag-and-release angler in 1996 and 2004 for Mediterranean spearfish. He is the president and founder of the Maguro-San Foundation-- dedicated to encouraging a passion for fishing and proper handling of fish for consumption. Bonfanti was sponsor and organizer of the 2006 IGFA European Representatives meeting in Milano.
Paolo Pacchiarini
Milan, Italy
Paolo Pachiarini of Milan, Italy began fishing at age six and evolved into an enthusiastic fly fisherman. The long-time IGFA member has scored several world records. Pacchiarini regularly authors articles in Italian and foreign fly-fishing magazines and has appeared on Italian fishing television shows.
Sandro Onofaro
Born in 1977 in Naples, Italy, Sandro Onofaro embraced a passion for fishing at a very early age.
At the tender age of four, his family would take him on holiday in Greece for two months where he first fell in love with the sport of fishing and marine life. Onofaro is passionate about sport fishing in Greece and believes it is in one of the most magical fishing locations in the entire Mediterranean Sea.
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As Onofaro matured, his passion for fishing grew deeper. At 16, he was elected the technical director of Fishing Club Petrarca in Naples, Italy. This is when he started to win competitions and in 1994, he earned the trolling regional champion title of the Italian Federation. At 19, Sandro moved to Parga, Greece, where he started his first sport fishing charter boat operation and a shipyard.
In 2004, Sandro returned to Italy, where he again developed a new charter operation and began to disseminate his fishing knowledge through sport fishing magazines.
As things have progressed in his career, Sandro has built many partnerships in different sport fishing niches. Today, he is the producer and host of fishing TV shows, serves as a consultant for the Italian fishing industry, and is a strong communicator and educator for sport fishing and conservation.
Gianfranco Santolini
Rimini, Italy
Gianfranco Santolini, President of Big Game Italia and President of Club Nautico Rimini, is a key figure in marine recreational fishing. He is developing a recreational saltwater fishing license for Italian anglers to aid in fish stock management in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas. Santolini has contributed to conservation efforts, including tagging juvenile sharks.
Roberto Ripamonti
Rome, Italy
Professional airline pilot Roberto Ripamonti is a prolific angling author with 11 books, 550 videos and over 2000 articles in some of Europe's best-known fishing magazines. The IGFA Representative's goal is to promote ethical fishing practices, help support modern and sustainable recreational fishing, and continue his efforts to prevent poaching.
Giacomo Forti
San Benedetto, Italy
For nearly 20 years Giacomo Forti has promoted ethical angling practices and game fish conservation in Italy through his fishing club Cicolo Nautico Sambenedettese. Forti's introduction to the IGFA came at the Offshore World Championship in 2000. Since then, Forti has hosted several successful tournaments in Italy that have helped to raise money supporting the IGFA Great Marlin Race in the Mediterranean.
LATVIA
Alvis Birkovs
Latvia
Alvis Birkovs gained enormous experience in various fisheries around the world-- earning an IGFA world record for a 1.14-kilogram (two-pound, eight-ounce) grayling (Thymallus thymallus). A former Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Anglers Association, he serves as IGFA Representative for the Republic of Latvia, where he promotes the organization's objectives, angling rules, and conservation and education programs for young anglers. He also serves on parliament and government commissions and ministry working groups.
LUXEMBOURG
Eric Arbogast
Luxembourg
Lifelong angler/ fly fisherman Eric Arbogast's involvement in the angling industry includes the retail, tackle manufacturing, and educational sectors-- teaching the basics of fly casting and fly fishing. His articles on product testing and other topics are published primarily in online media. His goal as a representative of the IGFA is to improve and sustain the conservation of Luxembourg watersheds by educating fellow anglers. Considering the diminutive size of his home country, his mission will transcend borders, as most local waters are not exclusive to Luxembourg.
MONACO
Alberto Salvini
Monaco
Alberto Salvini started fishing at age five and has been fly-fishing exclusively since 1981. As a freelance journalist, he turned his passion into a career, traveling to the best fishing locations on six continents. Salvini has been published in fishing magazines around the world and has appeared on various fishing shows where he demonstrates fly-tying and fishing techniques. He works as a consultant for international companies in the fly fishing industry and promotes conservation and ethical angling at industry events.
Bill Francois
Bill François is a biophysicist, writer, artist, and angler from France. He is passionate about protecting gamefish through science and recreational fishing. He coordinated several tagging programs to involve sport fishermen in the protection of bluefin tuna. Today, he is in charge of conservation and education at the Monaco Sport Fishing Federation, and also leads science public outreach projects to raise awareness about marine conservation.
David Gamba
David Gamba is the President and Founder of the Fédération Monégasque de Pêches Sportives (FMPS) and a leading advocate for sustainable fishing in the Mediterranean. With expertise as a professional skipper and environmental project manager, he has spearheaded initiatives to tag and track Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Pelagos Sanctuary, supported by the Prince Albert II Foundation and global scientific partners. Under his leadership, FMPS enforces strict catch-and-release protocols and promotes educational programs to raise awareness about sustainable practices. Collaborating with organizations like the IGFA, David aims to enhance global conservation efforts, leveraging his network to protect marine biodiversity and advance responsible sportfishing.
Guillaume Benoit
Guillaume Benoit, a lifelong fishing enthusiast who began casting lines at age six, is now an influential figure in big-game fishing, operating a successful charter company in Monaco, Seychelles, and other top fishing destinations. As President of the Monaco Fishing Club, he is a committed advocate for conservation, actively participating in a tagging program to study bluefin tuna migration. He also organizes the prestigious annual Monaco Tagging Tournament, with a mission to share his passion for the sport and foster a responsible angling community.
MOROCCO
Sahiaoui Fouad
Casablanca, Morocco
Sahiaoui Fouad is a world renowned fly angler with a total of 17 IGFA world records caught across the globe. As a conservationist, Fouad has provided over 200 white marlin genetic samples to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and has been an active participant in the IGFA Great Marlin Race.
NETHERLANDS
Peter C. Ouwendijk
Attorney Peter OuwendÃjk's love and passion for fishing has taken him all over the world. He promotes IGFA rules and regulations and frequently guides Dutch anglers through the paperwork of their record applications. Ouwendijk is a board member of the Saltwater Dutch Record Committee (NCRZ). He serves on the board and specimen committee of the Netherlands section of the European Federation of Sea Anglers (EFSA) where he is Honorary Solicitor.
OMAN
Ahmed Al Bulushi
PORTUGAL
Andrea J. Beuter
Andrea, originally from southern Germany, embarked on her fishing journey early, exploring local rivers and lakes for trout and perch. A dedicated saltwater enthusiast, she's cast her line in various destinations, honing her skills in light tackle angling and targeting game fish in Florida, Canada, and Panama. Guided by prominent fishing organizations and local experts, Andrea has mastered diverse fishing methods and fish handling techniques. Since 2018, she's focused on the abundant fishing grounds of the Azores islands, excelling in catching and releasing bottom fish, reef fish, tuna, and blue marlins using light tackle. Andrea shares her fishing knowledge with others and advocates for ocean conservation, finding fulfillment in both her adventures and her mission.
SAUDI ARABIA
Mohannad Mokaddam
Mohannad, born and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has devoted his life to fishing and the water. From his early days, he immersed himself in the trade, honing his skills on the water. Pursuing a career in the maritime industry, Mohannad earned a degree in Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, eventually rising to become a captain on an offshore vessel for one of the largest oil companies in the Kingdom. His passion for fishing extends beyond a hobby; Mohannad explores new spots and techniques with his Boston Whaler Conquest 305, participating in national and international competitions. He founded "Behind The Reef," a fishing community in Saudi Arabia, advocating for sustainable practices and preserving marine ecosystems for future generations.
Ahmed F. Shaker
Former diving instructor Ahmed Shaker's fishing career spans more than 30 years. He works with the Saudi and Egyptian governments to promote ethical and sustainable sport fishing practices. As an IGFA Representative he has helped extend the organization's reach by assisting with the expansion of IGFA clubs and weigh stations.
SPAIN
Ignasi Ferrer
Ignasi Ferrer has worked extensively to develop and promote recreational angling as a socio-economic benefit in Spain and throughout Europe. Current president of the Catalan Association of Responsible Fishing in Spain, Ferrer has helped to develop several citizen science tagging projects for bluefin tuna and has worked with government agencies in the European Union to develop sustainable models for recreational angling.
Jose O. Ribalta
Barcelona, Spain
Jose Ribalta started fly fishing at age 14 for trout and salmon in nearby rivers. He has collaborated in scientific programs including bluefin tuna, dolphinfish and sea bass tagging initiatives in Europe. The IGFA Representative's goal is to defend the interests of recreational anglers--particularly against overfishing by commercial operations around the world.
Lorenzo Roca
Barcelona, Spain
A fisherman since the early 1960s, Lorenzo Roca fishes an average of 200 days per year. His love for the sport has taken him all over the globe in search of the next adventure. He has won more than 100 local tournaments and has competed in hundreds more. To preserve the sport for future generations, Roca assists with bluefin tuna tagging programs. Roca and son Raul are spearheading youth education programs in Spain where more than 1,000 children are enrolled in their "Kids School" initiative.
Raul Roca
Barcelona, Spain
Raul Roca has participated in countless European fishing tournaments and is involved in tagging bluefin tuna. He works as sales director for AZ Trading-- a company that distributes fishing and hunting apparel in Spain and other European countries. With his father Lorenzo, Raul spearheads youth education programs in Spain where more than 1,000 children are enrolled in their "Kids School" initiative.
Marcus Damsell
Born in London, Marcus developed his angling skills fishing for pike, carp, and brown trout in England's lakes and rivers. In 1992, he ventured to the Canary Islands, where he immersed himself in water sports. With extensive experience in the East Atlantic, he now focuses on catch-and-release fishing for billfish and tuna aboard his vessel, the Big Blue. Advocating for sustainable practices, Marcus utilizes circle hooks and promotes modern angling techniques as an IGFA Representative. He actively participates in satellite tagging of bluefin tuna with the Tag A Giant Foundation and is dedicated to involving younger generations in big game fishing opportunities.
Joaquin Hernandez Soler
Girona, Spain
Joaquin Hernandez Soler is dedicated to raising Spain's awareness of the importance of fishing according to IGFA rules and using circle-hooks to reduce mortality of released fish. He believes in the need to educate younger anglers about the ethics of catch-and-release to preserve vulnerable fish stocks.
Gianmaria Cogliati
Lanzarote and Isla Graciosa, Canary Islands
Born in Turin, Italy, Gianmaria Cogliati relocated to the Canary Islands in 1996 to begin his career as a fishing guide and mate on charter fishing boats. He has been a professional fishing captain since 2003. His purpose for being an IGFA Representative is to better understand IGFA angling rules and promote them at local fishing tournaments. He is also involved in teaching young people to respect the sea and become good anglers and environmental stewards.
Nicola Zingarelli
Madrid, Spain
Nicola Zingarelli is a professional fisherman, fishing guide and owner of an online fishing tackle. Through his fishing career he has been featured in multiple fishing magazines and television shows in Europe, and continues to use those platforms for the promotion of the sport and ethical angling practices.
Esteban Graupera Monar
Balearic Islands, Spain
Esteban Graupera Monar has dedicated more than 20 years defending the interests of recreational anglers before the different fisheries administrations in the Balearic Islands, Spain and in other regions of Europe. He is also involved with international fisheries regulatory groups such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) - FAO.
SWEDEN
Johan Pettersson
Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
After graduating in 2002 from the Sportfishing Academy in Sweden, Johan Pettersson started his career as deckhand for renowned game fish captain and IGFA Representative Gerard "Frothy" De Silva. Pettersson's work and passion has taken him to some of the best-known fishing location around the world including Madeira, Portugal and Cairns, Australia. Pettersson is the main organizer of the Pike Challenge-- a pike fishing tournament in northern Sweden. He has also been involved in satellite tagging programs for giant bluefin tuna in Scandinavia.
TURKEY
Elvio A. Pennetti
Izmir, Turkey
Izmir, Turkey native Elvio Pennetti has been a guest speaker at conferences on the development of sport fishing in Turkey. He has attended ICCAT meetings as a representative of his country's recreational angling community. He was a co-organizer of some of the first offshore fishing competitions in Turkey and has consulted for others. Pennetti was featured on the 2012 documentary "Fish Meat" by Dr. Ted Caplow and has worked with the Aegean University on scientific projects to better understand Turkish fisheries.
Serdar Gunseren
Izmir, Turkey
Serdar Günseren--an avid angler for more than 45 years--serves on the scientific committee of the Turkey Sport Fishing Environment and Water Life Conservation Association (TUSOB). Günseren organizes two sport fishing tournaments that adhere to IGFA rules. As an IGFA representative, Günseren shares his knowledge and experience with anglers in Turkey, disseminates information about IGFA angling rules, and promotes the ideals of sustainable recreational angling.
UNITED KINGDOM
Pete Hill
Scotland, UK
Pete Hill has worked most of his life as a fishing expedition guide around the globe. Living in Scotland has given him access to one of the world's premiere locations for Atlantic salmon, and he has worked closely with fisheries boards to preserve this iconic species. Hill has travelled all over Africa, and extensively in Gambia, teaching local anglers and guides the ethos and mission of the IGFA. On his list of most important issues is the conservation of fish stocks and the correct handling and treatment of fish caught for sporting purposes.
Mark Jury
Mark has over 35 years of experience chasing large pelagics all over the world. He has fished in Florida, US, Panama, Azores, Portugal, Canary Islands, Kenya, Tanzania, Maldives, Seychelles, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Mark is also passionate about conservation and has worked with Tag-A-Giant in Ireland (Bluefin), The Billfish Foundation in Kenya (marlin, sailfish, swordfish), ICCAT, and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science CEFAS (Bluefin UK). He now spends roughly four months in the UK running his charter boat Fortuna II, primarily targeting bluefin tuna. The Fortuna II has been the top tagging boat for the last two years, releasing a total of 422 bluefin during the period. Mark has also won numerous tournaments and is passionate about the promotion of ethical angling practices through proper training and education.