The Gulf of Nicoya is located in the Pacific coast of Costa Rica (see map below). This Gulf is one of the largest in Central America and holds over 80 communities that are highly dependent on small-scale fisheries for both food and livelihoods.
In 2013, a report from BIOMARCC project showed that the combination of excessive fishing effort, illegal fishing gear, and lack of respect for minimum size limits has driven to the overexploitation of the main fishing resources in the Gulf. If the overfishing continues, it is estimated that by 2020 most target species will be collapsed. The demise of these fisheries will significantly increase poverty and vulnerability of the Gulf of Nicoya communities. Aware of this, the government of Costa Rica, NGOs and local communities have implemented different efforts to reverse the trends of the decrease in catches and fishermen income. The most remarkable ones are the annual three-month closure that has been implemented for more than 30 years, a subsidy program started in 2005 and a spatial co-management strategy known as Marine Responsible Fishing Areas (MARFs), legally recognized in 2009. However, none of these efforts have been successful in achieving the main goal: recover the artisanal fisheries in the Gulf of Nicoya.
Both, lack of compliance and poor scientific and/or economic criteria in the design of current regulations have been identified as important sources of ineffective management by the government itself.
In 2013, a report from BIOMARCC project showed that the combination of excessive fishing effort, illegal fishing gear, and lack of respect for minimum size limits has driven to the overexploitation of the main fishing resources in the Gulf. If the overfishing continues, it is estimated that by 2020 most target species will be collapsed. The demise of these fisheries will significantly increase poverty and vulnerability of the Gulf of Nicoya communities. Aware of this, the government of Costa Rica, NGOs and local communities have implemented different efforts to reverse the trends of the decrease in catches and fishermen income. The most remarkable ones are the annual three-month closure that has been implemented for more than 30 years, a subsidy program started in 2005 and a spatial co-management strategy known as Marine Responsible Fishing Areas (MARFs), legally recognized in 2009. However, none of these efforts have been successful in achieving the main goal: recover the artisanal fisheries in the Gulf of Nicoya.
Both, lack of compliance and poor scientific and/or economic criteria in the design of current regulations have been identified as important sources of ineffective management by the government itself.