The environmental agency in Costa Rica known as Pretoma and the Fishermen’s Association of Bejuco de Nicoya have submitted a petition to the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) to create a new Marine Management Area in Nandayure, Guanacaste.
The proposed area is surrounded by the Caletas-Ario and Camaronal wildlife refuges and consists of more than 23,000 hectares. The promoters of the plan said the proposed management area is necessary in order to eliminate shrimp trawling vessels which they say are creating socioeconomic problems and killing sea turtles.
The creation of this area is a logical step, said Randall Arauz, director of Pretoma.
The creation of this new Marine Management Area would promote a model of sustainable coastal development and keep Costa Rica at the forefront of marine conservation, said Erick Lopez, a Pretoma official in Guanacaste.
The proposal is supported by local residents and fishermen, as well as several organizations including WIDECAST, Reserva Playa Tortuga, Leatherback Trust, and others.
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