The presence of shrimp boats in Bahia Santa Elena, Guanacaste, is a new chapter of disagreements between artisanal fishermen and the Executive.
The complaint raised by fishermen -supported by NGOs and biologists- noted that shrimp farmers are covering many resources, leaving them with nothing.
Maike Heidemeyer, a marine biologist in the area, said that marine ecosystems in the North Pacific are “very vulnerable,” and they urge the government to implement measures to ensure better conditions that also benefit artisanal fishers.
Shrimp farms were always concentrated in the Central Pacific, but we suspect they are looking for other sites in the face of a slump in shrimp stocks. In the last two months 3 boats began to come here,”
said Heidemeyer.
To address the issue, there was a meeting with fifty people from different organizations such as the Chamber of Fishermen of Guanacaste, fishermen of Santa Elena and El Jobo, the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA), the National Coast Guard Service (SNG) and the Center for the Rescue of Threatened Marine Species (CREMA), among others.
During the meeting the representatives indicated that shrimp farmers influence points such as Bahía Santa Elena, Playa Rajada, Bajo Rojo and Punta Descartes.
In coastal communities such as Cuajiniquil, El Jobo and Puerto Soley, more than 90% of families depend directly on fishing,”
said CREMA.
According to a 2013 decree, shrimp farming activities in Guanacaste pose a risk to the livelihood of artisanal fishermen.
Consulted on the subject, Gustavo Meneses, president of INCOPESCA, indicated that, on Friday, he had a meeting with artisanal fishermen of the area and that they will implement a plan to zone the fishing territory.
However, the proposal -which is already ready- should be analyzed by the board of the institute.
The idea is that the fishing effort carried out by the semi-industrial trawling vessels does not affect the performance of the fishing artisans. In addition, we have the project of installing satellite devices to semi-industrial vessels,”
said Meneses.
Artisanal fishermen are restless because the capture of the largest fleets, collect accompanying fauna (fish species of interest to them).