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    - Photo via Tortuguero National Park -
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Published on Wednesday, May 10,
2023
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The government, through the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Incopesca), vetoed a recently issued agreement to expand the list of fishing interests for commercial exploitation by 200 species, which included wild species.
The Incopesca
Board of Directors agreed to reverse the
same resolution they issued a couple of
weeks ago. “At the meeting of the Board of
Directors, we put the review of the
agreement at the top of the agenda so that
it becomes invalid as of today,” said
Víctor Carvajal-Porras, Minister of
Agriculture and member of the board.
The polemic agreement was published in the government newspaper, La Gaceta, titled "List of Species of Freshwater Fish and Crustaceans and of Aquaculture Interest in the Continental, Coastal and Oceanic Waters of the Country."
The document authorized the exploitation and trade of corals, turtles, wild iguanas, sea urchins, sponges, sea cucumbers and algae among many others.
The controversial list was oppugned by experts from public universities, wildlife defender organizations and deputies among many other groups.
According to the statement signed jointly by the University of Costa Rica, the National Technical University, the State Distance University, the National University and the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, the list issued by the institute increased from 34 to 234 commercially exploitable species, which put the conservation of marine biodiversity at risk.
Even though that first agreement was revoked, the document will be sent to the Scientific Technical Coordination Commission of the institute where experts will include the position of other public and private organizations to have a list that incorporates the interests of the various sectors, said the Ministry in its statement.
That
resolution contradicted the Wildlife
Conservation Law, No. 7317, which
was enacted in 1992 and establishes
the legal basis for the
conservation, management, and
sustainable use of wildlife in Costa
Rica. According
to the law, some of the sea species
protected in Costa Rica include: Sea
turtles such as the Olive Ridley,
Hawksbill, Leatherback, and Green
turtle, are protected under national
laws and international agreements.
There are dedicated conservation
programs and protected areas where
these turtles nest, ensuring their
survival. Whale
and dolphin species such as Humpback
whales, Bryde's whales, and several
dolphin species, including the
spinner dolphin and bottlenose
dolphin, are protected. The Marino
Ballena National Park and the Marino
Las Baulas National Park are
important protected areas for these
marine mammals. Sharks
and rays, due to the country has
banned shark finning, a practice
that involves removing shark fins
and discarding the rest of the body.
Protection measures also extend to
species like the whale shark and
manta rays, which are vulnerable due
to their slow reproductive rates. Coral
reefs are vital ecosystems,
providing habitat and nurseries for
various marine species. Several
types of coral are protected under
national and international
regulations, such as the staghorn
coral and elkhorn coral. The country
has established marine protected
areas to safeguard these delicate
and important ecosystems. A wide
variety of seabird species,
including pelicans, frigatebirds,
and boobies. These birds are
protected under national laws and
are important indicators of the
health of coastal ecosystems.
Protecting their nesting sites and
addressing threats like habitat
destruction and pollution is crucial
for their conservation. The
country has numerous national parks,
wildlife refuges, and protected
areas that contribute to the
conservation of marine species and
their habitats. These areas provide
legal protection and support
conservation efforts to ensure the
long-term survival of these valuable
sea species. --------------
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