Bottom trawling: the opinion of those involved on the front line.

Last week, the bill allowing shrimp trawling fishing was approved in the Legislative Assembly.

From now on, the final decision and its respective placement in the official newspaper La Gaceta for announcement will depend on the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado.

Opinions on the matter have been very divided, and the unease of many has not been long in coming due to the decision being made without taking into account possible irreversible damage to nature.

In this article we have viewpoints from some fishermen, boat guides and shrimpers, as well as the opinion of some institutions such as MARVIVA and MINAE.

Christian Boos, a tour guide in the Guanacaste region, said: " This is about money. This practice could destroy the seabed so that only a few people can become millionaires. It's not worth it. And what some legislators have said about turning the leftovers into cat food is a mockery of environmental sustainability. The ocean is my life, and just as I put food on the table, there are countless others who depend on the seas and tourism. Politicians seem to have a double standard, claiming to defend natural resources first and then doing things like this. The legislators who voted in favor of this bill should resign, as they clearly have no idea what they're doing. As consumers, we should also do our part and reduce our consumption of products obtained through these destructive fishing techniques."

Artisanal fishermen (anonymous statements) - Tarcoles sector: For us, shrimp trawling is destroying our livelihood and our ability to earn money for our families. And why is this happening? The answer is simple: a large number of the species they catch die, disrupting the natural life cycle and resulting in smaller fish for artisanal fishing, or even the disappearance of species from some areas.

Ronald Umaña, shrimp fisherman from Puntarenas: I've made my living from shrimp fishing for 37 years, and I know both the positive and negative aspects of improper practices. But first and foremost, to discuss such a complex issue, we need qualified people in government institutions and political positions. If people receive misinformation from the media, they will certainly have a negative viewpoint. Personally, I believe that bottom trawling wouldn't be bad in Costa Rica, as long as the designated fishing areas are respected.

Christian Rojas - sailor, Herradura sector:

It's a very delicate issue, because on one hand you have an environmental disaster, and on the other, a socioeconomic one. Many families in Puntarenas have suffered greatly since this practice was banned. There's no sustainable way to do bottom trawling, but if the technique is regulated, things could be somewhat different. But there's an even more delicate and significant issue: the tuna fishing industry. What they pay is completely absurd. And they kill everything in their path. I don't support bottom trawling.

MARVIVA opposes bottom trawling because it is indiscriminate, destroying juvenile shrimp (which have not yet reproduced) and other non-target species (bycatch). It generates overexploitation, blocking any possibility of ecosystem regeneration; it has an irreversible or difficult-to-recover impact on the seabed; it threatens the food security and subsistence economy of artisanal fishers; a vulnerable population that significantly outnumbers semi-industrial shrimp fishers. (Statement to the media)

MINAE: its vision is to ensure a productive, healthy, and resilient ocean. To ensure the greatest benefit for communities, both today and for future generations, therefore , bottom trawling will not pave the way for economic development along the coasts. On the contrary, it generates greater pressure on already overexploited ecosystems and resources, or on endangered species, because it is a highly unselective technique.

Despite the technical-legal report for this practice being found to have flaws in its design, as it does not reflect the process used to protect the seabed and its surroundings, if the practice is ultimately approved by President Carlos Alvarado, INCOPESCA will have one year to conduct the relevant studies demonstrating the environmental sustainability of bottom trawling before finally granting the licenses.

Written by: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero