I GUESS COSTA RICA IS JUST SCREWED

[rarhomes]

First with the sailfish Quota's and now this

Tuna Purse Seiner Threatens Costa Rican Sportfishing Fleet

Sportfishing boat crews, guests and owners fishing off of Quepos, Los Suenos and Cabo Blanco were the target of tuna purse seine vessels in a series of incidents documented last week. Vessels fishing schools of large yellowfin tuna were first harassed on Friday, June 20, when helicopters launched from a purse seiner drove them off the school of tuna by dropping small explosive charges on the boats. The next day, the fishing vessel Andrea F, a Nicaraguan flagged boat owned by a "blind" Panamanian corporation, intentionally encircled seven sportfishing boats fishing a school of yellowfin and confined them inside the diameter of its large net. The incident lasted more than an hour, during which time the seven boats were harassed and threatened by the netters with the commercial vessel's helicopter buzzing the sport boats at a very close range. The sport boats included five Costa Rican vessels and two U.S. flagged boats. Reports of a similar incident were heard on the following day.

Larry Drivon of Maverick Sportfishing Yachts contacted TBF's Chair, Joan Vernon, and Dr. Russell Nelson last Monday informing them of the series of incidents and supplying several video tapes and photos taken during the June 21 incident. Nelson and TBF's Central American Conservation Director Herbert Nanne were in Panama representing TBF at the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission meeting at the time and immediately brought the matter to the attention of Carlos Villalobos, head of Costa Rica's fisheries agency INCOPESCA. Upon viewing the tapes and photos, Villalobos acted decisively and quickly, ordering an immediate formal government investigation into these potentially criminal acts. He vowed that this type of incident would not be tolerated in Costa Rica.

This afternoon, Nanne, along with INCOPESCA attorney Guillermo Ramirez, are scheduled to meet with the captains, crew and owners who were subjected to the harassment by the purse seiner at Los Suenos. Formal, sworn statements will be given to launch the investigation. "TBF was happy to bring these dangerous actions to the attention of the proper officials," said TBF President Ellen Peel, "and we look forward to prompt justice from INCOPESCA - this vessel should be stripped of its permit to fish in Costa Rican waters and the incident should be reported to the Nicaraguan authorities as well."

The short video recording of the June 21 incident is currently being uploaded to TBF's web site and should be available this evening, if not, by Thursday morning. Any questions on the incident can be directed to Dr. Russell Nelson at 561-449-9637.

[hubris 1]

the commercial boats will ruin it down there. in five years you'll look back and wonder why. they have built such a hugh industry fishing there, they need to figure out how to keep the bandits away. good luck.

[Squidnation]

the commercial boats will ruin it down there. in five years you'll look back and wonder why. they have built such a hugh industry fishing there, they need to figure out how to keep the bandits away. good luck.

hubris- check out the circle hook forum. Send the president a letter, a t-shirt and a hat. We to send down as many letters as possible to let them know it will effect the fishery.

The personal fax number for the president of Costa Rica is 011-506-2253-9078 - PLEASE READ ON!


All winter long I read the great stories of Sf.com members heading to Costa Rica for the outstanding billfish and marlin bite. The stories and pictures of members said it all. The fishing and atmosphere in Costa Rica is unique and should be held in the highest regard. That being said I was just informed that in 2006 1.2 million pounds of sailfish meat was sold at the Costa Rican wholesalers in 2006.

INCOPESCA, the Costa Rican long line regulators had increased the legal limit of long line caught sailfish to 15% of there total catch. Now they want that total to go up to 25% and even 35% during the peak season of Jan through April.

Most Central American countries have taken great strides to protect sailfish and marlin fron long line activity. The value of these fish are much greater to the community as a sportfishing industry product then a commercial food fish.

The Costa Rican government needs to know the importance of this fishery. We need to be proactive and contact the president of Costa Rica and let him know how the sportfishing community feels about long liners targeting billfish and the harm it does to the fishery and the economical impact it could have on sportfishing tourism in Costa Rica.


The best way to contact the president directly is through his personal fax number. President Arias' personal fax number is 011-506-2253-9078. Please send a short fax expressing your concern

[LeftOar]

The YFT fishing in Cabo San Lucas has also been seriously affected by similar purse seine boats with aerial spotters. I just came back from there and had been reading numerous reports of how slow the YFT bite has been this year with netting operations along the Pacific coast and up into the Sea of Cortez. I can tell you first hand that only a few very scattered YFTs were caught the week I was there (6/16-6/23), and that is another place that used to have excellent fishing that will surely decline if something isn't done soon.

LeftOar

[nautiduck]

I guessing that having weapons on a boat there is illegal? I cant imagine that happening (dropping explosive charges)in the states without some some redneck dropping that bird out of the sky.

[Ace1st]

Daaaaaaaamn NautiDuck......we think so much alike!!

I can tell you now, a pump 12gauge with XX Buckshot would have brought this confrontation to an immediate halt.

Reminds me of a confrontation I had some years ago, sitting on a hole slaying beeliners and had a commercial pull up and TOLD me to get off his ledge! After some hand gestures by yours truly, he pulled out a color water ballon launcher and commenced to run me off, HAHAHA he got a surprise when i returned from the head with the Remington 870 and pointed it in the vicinity of his waterline. Didnt know a Thompson Trawler could plane so fast!!

[nautiduck]

Damn right, Home of the free, land of the armed...

[nautiduck]

I got that backward didnt I? So much for a college education Land of the free, Home of the Armed(Brave)... I guess I am not smarter than a fifth grader.

[Flatdog]

Would love to put a 10ga/12ga slug in the motor just to see what happens that twirly gig all fall down?

[sancocho]

The video:


http://www.billfish.org/new/video.asp


i just post it in the MIX IT UP under the name

Commercial Tuna boat encircles several sportfisherman in CR,





suerte,