Thousands of families in Costa Rica rely on artisanal fishing for their economic well-being. However, a kind of “rivalry” between the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA) and the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) to improve this practice, prevents its effectiveness.
This was determined by a report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Expert Group on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), with data from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania.
The report also analyzed their role in communal fisheries welfare and food security.
This document shows that thousands of families depend on this activity, however, the country’s coastal MPA system was not adequately designed to manage artisanal fisheries sustainably. This is how a “rivalry” is described to address the concerns and needs of the fishing community and fishermen.
The report on Costa Rica was led by Andy Bystrom, an environmental consultant and marine researcher from the University of Costa Rica. He analyzed the Costa Rican MPA system and its effectiveness in managing the country’s artisanal fisheries.
Bystrom warns that without this managing structure, future contributions from MPAs, in terms of food security and community well-being, are going to decrease.
The report concludes that it is important that, despite the difficulties it faces, Costa Rica keeps working on a coastal management system that supports the development of sustainable fisheries based on science and community management strategies.