The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica, (Sala IV) accepted a constitutional appeal that was presented by the shrimpers and granted the Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute (Incopesca) six months to carry out scientific studies to determine if it is possible to diminish the effects of trawling in the marine fauna.

Back in 2013 the Constitutional Chamber had forbidden the renovation or emission of new trawling permits due to the environmental damages this practice causes, and they declared that the only way they could reconsider allowing this practice would be if enough changes were met to make it a sustainable practice, which “would need to be demonstrated through technical studies supported by the scientific community”; conditions that so far have not been met by the fishermen sector.

Currently only three licenses are still valid out of the preexisting 44.

In order to request the necessary studies, Incopesca will have to coordinate with the Ministry of Environment and Energy and Universities.

Fishermen protested earlier this week and demanded to speak to representatives of the Government, they want authorities to take action to reactivate the economy in their communities and generate employment.

Gustavo Meneses, president of the Incopesca board of directors, claims there are 3,700 people that depend economically of shrimp trawling since there are 1,100 fishermen dedicated to this practice; however, tourism operators and artisan fisherman have also clearly stated their opposition to trawling.

In October 2016, the School of Economics of the National University (UNA) presented a socioeconomic study of the semi-industrial shrimp trawling sector in which which showed that the practice only generates 590 direct jobs, of which 80 percent are of poor quality, and below minimum wage. Shrimp peelers earn on average 37 times less than license owners.