The new plan unites into one group the 10 Costa Rican coastal towns that have special community-managed fishing zones. The group is called the National Network of Responsible Fishing Areas.
Ocean conservation group MarViva filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court onThursday, alleging that the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute illegally renewed three shrimp trawling licenses following a court order not to do so. Incopesca denies the allegations.
More than 600 fishermen and environmentalists united Thursday morning to protest a bill that would reinstate shrimp trawling in Costa Rican waters. "Pesca arrastre es un desastre," they shouted.
Costa Rica will begin slowly phasing out shrimp trawling Tuesday with the first permanent expiration of a trawling license. The Capitán Bonilla will become the first vessel forced to discontinue the practice following an August court ruling that declared shrimp trawling unconstitutional.
