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In August
2013, the Supreme Court,
know as Sala IV, ruled
that shrimp trawling is
contrary to the principles
and contents of the
International Code of
Conduct for Responsible
Fisheries / A.M.
Costa Rica
wire services
photo
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Government and fishermen
start meetings
to reach agreement on fishing
restrictions
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By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
Representatives of the government
and the fishing sector, a total of
50 participants, Monday announced
the agreements reached at the
National Technical University
meeting that was led by Laura
Ávila, from the Arbitration and
Mediation Center of the Costa
Rican Bar Association.
"From the agro-productive sector
we are aware of the need to
maintain an open and constant
dialogue with the national fishing
sector," said Renato Alvarado,
Minister of Agriculture and
Livestock. "By reactivating these
meetings we reaffirm our
commitment to this productive
sector." According to the
Ministry, meetings have been
started with representatives of
the government and the fishing
sector to reach agreements on fish
regulations.
The main agreements are:
- Setting 5 meetings to analyze
issues of sports fishing,
artisanal fishing, and shrimp
trawling. These meetings will
begin on May 27.
- July 17th was established as the
final date to get an agreement on
those issues.
- Representatives of the United
Nations Organization, Ombudsman's
Office, deputies of the province
of Puntarenas will participate in
the meetings as guarantees of the
dialogue and negotiation process.
- Representatives of the Fishermen
Chamber, Fishermen Union, Sport
Fishing Associations, among others
will participate in the meetings.
- Authorities of the Fisheries
Institute and the Ministry of
Environment, among others, will
participate in the meetings.
Related to the decision of
government to solve the problems
of the fishing industry an
investment of nearly $5 million in
shrimp fishery studies was
announced.
As A.M. Costa Rica reported on
Jan. 24, the government, through
the National Fisheries Institute
(INCOPESCA), signed a cooperation
agreement to invest approximately
₡2,950 billion colones (about
$4,915,027) to study the
consequences of elimination of
trawling.
According to the institute, the
results of these analyses will be
the basis for determining if it is
possible to make sustainable use
of the shrimp resource and to
establish its maximum sustainable
yield parameters.
It will also define the levels of
non-shrimp fauna caught in the
nets and determine seasonal
closures to protect the species
when it is in its reproductive
period to protect those
reproductive peaks.
According to Moisés Mug, President
of INCOPESCA, "from these studies
you have information on the
behavior of shrimp 'pinky' (Farfantepenaeus
brevirostris), 'fidel' (Solenocera
agassizi) and 'camels' (Heterocarupus
vicarius and Heterocarpus
affinis), which allows the
design of management and
conservation measures of a trawl
fishery."
This effort will facilitate the
identification of the areas in
which each species is distributed,
considering factors such as
quantity and depth of the
populations and whether there is
greater abundance according to a
particular time of the year.
The National Learning Institute,
which is also collaborating in the
study, said the new investigations
complement those already developed
to the percentages of exclusion of
accompanying fauna in the trawl
fishery of deep-sea shrimp pinky
and fidel shrimp.
These studies will be carried out
within a period of 24 months,
providing the first report at the
beginning of 2020, in order to
compare at least two years of data
and consider possible variations
caused by the ENSO phenomenon
(known as the climatic phenomenon
of El Niño and La Niña).
The institution hired six
biologists and six fishing
technicians, who, after getting
the results of the study, would
provide training in the following
activities:
- Train producers in preparation
of sausages and other foods for
human or animal, using the
accompanying fauna.
- Elaboration of trawl fishing
systems in accordance with
national regulations.
- The fishing institute will also
hire six vessels to carry out
experimental fishing.
According to the institute, the
funds that are generated with the
sale of the auction, during
research trips, will be used to
cover the operating expenses of
the contracted vessels. If a
monetary surplus is generated it
will be distributed proportionally
between both institutions.
In August 2013, the Supreme Court,
know as Sala IV, ruled that shrimp
trawling is contrary to the
principles and contents of the
International Code of Conduct for
Responsible Fisheries, and the
Code of Ethics for Responsible
Fisheries and Aquaculture in the
United States of the Central
American Isthmus.
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Should the
government divert that money
into creating aid programs
so that the fishermen do not
use trawl fishing? We
would like to know your thoughts
on this story. Send your
comments to: news@amcostarica.com
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