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Government invests more than $4 million in shrimp fishery studies |
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 By the A.M. Costa Rica
staff
The government, through the National Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA), signed a cooperation agreement Wednesday to invest approximately ¢2,950 billion colones ($4,915,027) to investigate the impacts of trawling. According to the institute, the results of these analyzes 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 can have information on the behavior of shrimp ‘pinky’ (Farfantepenaeus brevirostris), ‘fidel’ (Solenocera agassizi) and ‘camellos’ (Heterocarupus vicarius and Heterocarpus affinis), which allows the design of management and conservation measures of a trawl fishery.” Mug said that 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 evaluate the percentages of exclusion of accompanying fauna in the trawl fishery of deep-sea shrimp pinky and fidel. These studies will be carried out within a period of 24 months, providing a 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 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 give training in the following activities: -Train producers in preparation of sausages and other foods for human or animal consumption, using the accompanying fauna. |
 A.M. Costa Rica wire services photo In August 2013, the court of Room IV ruled that shrimp trawling is contrary to the principles and contents of the International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. -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 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 court of Room 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. ---- 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 *Click on the blue letters to reach the place in google maps. |
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