Health Officials Crack Down on Fish Vendors

Something fishy has been going on in the Pacific port city of Puntarenas, according to health authorities who recently seized fresh seafood from vendors selling it under unsanitary conditions, according to a statement from the National Animal Health Service (SENASA).

Officials visited several ambulatory fish vendors at Puntarenas’ municipal market and seized 600 kilos of seafood including sailfish, peeled shrimp, octopus and shark, among other seafood products.

The initiative was carried out with the Public Health Ministry, PuntarenasMunicipality, National Police, and Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA).

Many vendors were transporting the fish in coolers that were warmer than the legal maximum 10 of degrees Celsius and selling them on the sidewalks, violating requirements for operations permissions and certificates from veterinarians.

These types of operatives are carried out “all over the country to avoid the sale of items that don’t meet sanitary measures the law demands, putting people’s health at risk,” said SENASA Director Yayo Vicente, according to the statement.

Products that don’t meet these guidelines are seized and destroyed by health officials.