It is reported that these deaths show that illegal fishing with live bait occurs at an accelerated pace in the South Pacific.
Dozens of sailfish and marlin were found in the waters of the Golfo Dulce by members of the Southern Zone Sport Fishing Council.
Its members denounce that these deaths demonstrate the illegal fishing activity with live bait that occurs “at an accelerated pace” in the South Pacific.
“This activity puts the marine biodiversity of our area at risk and also affects the local economy and the communities that depend on sustainable fishing,”said Diego Camacho, spokesperson for the Southern Zone Fisheries Council.
Camacho pointed out that illegal fishing with live bait is subject to regulations that limit its use in said area.
But this has not limited the fact that commercial boats and boats have been carrying out this illegal activity for about six years and threaten the preservation of protected species such as marlin and sailfish, mainly.
They regret government inaction
“We have had multiple approaches with the Coast Guard team and with different responsible institutions such as Incopesca. But we have not obtained any results.
“Last week different personalities from the Southern Zone Sport Fishing Council met with several deputies. The objective was to expose and denounce this problem and request that concrete measures be taken,” Camacho added.
One of those who expressed his concern is the official Manuel Morales.
The legislator lamented that the “permissiveness towards practices such as illegal fishing with live bait is a worrying contradiction. But, in addition, it challenges the image that Costa Rica intends to project to the world,” according to a statement from the Council.
Marlin and sailfish species are used as bait to attract sharks. They are then sold in the market at a very low price.
Camacho stressed that, paradoxically, these species are vital for ecosystems and economic reactivation, given that they have a high tourist value for the practice of sport and recreational fishing.
In 2019 alone, sport fishing associated with the capture of sailfish and other species of interest generated visits by 150,000 tourists and 33,000 jobs, of which 13,000 are direct, Camacho explained.
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