Foreign tuna purse seiner vessel (Photo: courtesy MarViva)

The tuna sector raises its voice by decree that expands the prohibited area for fishing

COSTA RICA
Thursday, October 01, 2020, 16:00 (GMT + 9)

The following is an excerpt from an article published by Delfino:

The Costa Rican Chamber of the Tuna Industry (CATUN) issued a statement this Tuesday in which it warned about the implications for the sector, the eventual approval of the Executive Decree that promotes the Presidential House to increase the areas where tuna fishing is prohibited to 100 or 150 nautical miles from the coast, as opposed to the 45 are currently in place.

According to the chamber, the proposal "is illegal because it violates Article 60 of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Law No. 8436 but, in addition, it endangers the Costa Rican Tuna Industry, which generates 4,500 direct jobs, the vast majority in Puntarenas."

Image: courtesy crc891

The possible decree is the product of conversations between representatives of the Ministry of the Presidency, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA), together with various social groups from Puntarenas and CATUN's concern stems from a document of intent that was ratified last Friday in Puntarenas by representatives of the Ministry of the Presidency and various groups representing the interests of fishermen.

According to the intention indicated by the Executive the previous week, the idea is to establish modifications by decree and expand the zone of prohibition of purse seine tuna fishing, up to a distance of between 100 and 150 miles from the Pacific coast (in the Pacific).

2020 data up to June | Graphic: courtesy Manuel Sancho l El Observador | Source: Caldera Port Society / Incopesca | Click on the image to enlarge it

"This great reduction in fishing areas would eliminate the country from all competitiveness so that foreign flag tuna seine vessels can continue to buy licenses from INCOPESCA. With this measure they are not only prohibiting purse seine tuna fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE) of Costa Rica, but are leaving the industry without tuna of national origin, strongly affecting regional competitiveness and preventing it from complying with the export commitments of its canned food to markets such as the United States and Europe ”, said Asdrúbal Vásquez, Director CATUN Executive.

Author:  Andrea Mora / Delfino

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