No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveWatchdogs report fishing ships allegedly violating new port law in Puntarenas

Watchdogs report fishing ships allegedly violating new port law in Puntarenas

A new agreement between Costa Rican fishing authorities and the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry (MAG) has caused seaport watchdogs to sound the whistle.

Jorge Ballestero, a biologist with the Marine Turtle Restoration Program (Pretoma) last week filmed two ships flying Belizean flags docking at Mariscos Wang’s private pier in the Pacific port city of Puntarenas. The ship allegedly was seen at the private pier less than two weeks after the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (Incopesca) and MAG announced that they would close private docks to foreign vessels (TT, Dec. 17).

According to articles 211 and 212 of Costa Rica’s General Customs Law, introducing foreign products to private havens in order to evade customs inspections is illegal and punishable by fines of up to twice the value of the cargo.

Environmentalists claim that foreign ships deliberately avoid customs inspections in order to move contraband such as illegally removed shark fins (TT Dec. 17). Pretoma members have long pushed for foreign ships to dock at public ports where fishing and customs authorities can inspect the vessels.

“Simply, Incopesca is taking the steps to avoid the law once again, just as they did in 1998,” said Randall Arauz, president of PRETOMA.

Under the agreement between Incopesca and MAG, authorities would start requiring foreign ships to dock at a new $257,000 public dock in Barrio El Carmen in Puntarenas, where boats would undergo full cargo inspections by Costa Rican customs agents.

But, in a press release, Ballestero said that when he asked customs officials about the new agreement, “agents said they hadn’t received any official notification from Incopesca to not allow boats to pass through the private piers in Puntarenas.”

Marlin León, an Incopesca representative in Puntarenas, told The Tico Times that the ships were only temporarily docked at the Mariscos Wang private port while workers prepared the public dock in Barrio El Carmen to receive the freight from the two ships. She said the boats moved to the public dock once everything was ready, unloaded their cargo and underwent a full customs inspection.

León said a third foreign ship is expected to arrive this week in Puntarenas and told The Tico Times that authorities will require it to unload in Barrio El Carmen.

A team of Pretoma’s top watchdogs said they will monitor the arrival and keep a close eye on the ports to enforce the new agreement. 

“Incopesca insists that since the boat isn’t unloading, it’s not doing anything illegal,” Ballastero said. “If the boats aren’t unloading, then why are they anchored in the private docks?”

Trending Now

Chiquita Brands Leaves Panama Amid Protests, Talks Underway to Resume

Laid-off workers from the U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands said on Monday that they are hoping for the company’s return to Panama, after it...

Guatemala Offers Asylum to Nicaraguan Migrants Deported by U.S.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced on Friday that his country will grant asylum to Nicaraguan migrants deported by the United States who do not...

Costa Rica’s Congress Expands Organized Crime Probe, Summons Ex-Presidents

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly is intensifying its investigation into alleged links between public officials and organized crime. Earlier today, the Special Permanent Commission on...

Costa Rica’s Eyelash Viper Snake Is One of the Most Beautiful

There are at least 141 different species of snakes in Costa Rica. With that large number of species packed into such a tiny nation,...

Costa Rica to Launch Electric Air Taxis for Sustainable Travel in Guanacaste

Costa Rica is poised to revolutionize its transportation landscape with the introduction of electric air taxis, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional ground travel...

Honduras Seizes $2 Million, Gold-Plated Pistols in Drug Raid

Honduran authorities struck a blow against drug cartels, seizing over $2 million in cash, war rifles, and flashy gold-plated pistols in Copán, a northwest...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica