Costa Rica News – The Costa Rican government saw initiative 18.968 this week, which is about reviving trawling as a Costa Rica fishing method.
With a vote of 35 for and 7 against, the Assembly authorized the use of trawl nets for extracting shrimp and prawn.
This is enacted through a reform of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Law after seeing a huge social impact of the prohibition of shrimp trawling.
The change applies to semi-industrial fishing with a permit for the extraction of shrimp and similar species. The trawls must meet regulatory requirements “established by the executing authority.” Trawl nets to be used must exclude fish and turtles and meet other technical and scientific regulations, as well.
Fishermen’s organizations had been pressuring the approval of the bill in the Legislative Assembly. Trawling is needed for the livelihood of entire communities, especially in Puntarenas.
Those against the practice, however, point out that it is not compatible with sustainable development.
