The government and the private sector are discussing the possibility of eliminating the ban on industrial longline fishing that has been in place since 2010, and regulating the activity.
Between 2008 and 2016, fish exports fell from $419 million to $128 million, reflecting a decline in activity and loss of competitiveness compared to other countries such as Costa Rica and Ecuador, where industrial longline fishing is permitted.As a measure to revive the fishing industry, the government is evaluating eliminating the ban imposed by the Martinelli administration in 2010 and allowing use of this technique.
A proposal has been made to reform the law in order to better regulate the fisheries sector, which contributes 5% of GDP, expanding prohibited areas and implementing a moratorium on commercial fishing licenses.
Aware of the of the importance of industrial, commercial and sport fishing for the Panamanian economy, the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) is preparing a draft law to modernize the current fisheries legislation, which dates from 1959.
The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission has announced that the response to the request to increase the tonnage of fishing in the Eastern Pacific will be given in October.
Noting a lack of sufficient information and studies to determine more clearly the potential impact of increasing the quota, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) said it will postpone the decision until October.
The publication of the decree signed by former President Chinchilla to regulate tuna fishing using purse seine has been delayed while the new administration formulates its position on the matter.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Federation of Fishing (Fecop):
Government postpones for 60 days publication of Decree to regulate purse seine tuna fishing
After four months of suspension of fishing for spiny lobster in the countries of the region and in the Dominican Republic, fishing can resume from 1 July.
According to Rene Gutierrez, chief of the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) of Honduras, starting from now "fishermen from across the region can go out to fish" in the Caribbean.
The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the upcoming closure periods for tuna fishing with seine nets using vessels of over 182 tons capacity.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture (MAGA), the closures will be from July 29 to September 28, from 29 September to 29 October and from November 18 to January 18, 2014, in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Corralito Area.
From March 1 to June 30 the ban extends on catching lobsters in the Central American Caribbean.
Panamaamerica.com.pa reports that "the ban will be extended until 30 June under enforcement of Honduran legislation and the Regional Regulations for Fisheries Ordinance of the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), said the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) in Honduras ".
The measure announced in Guatemala temporarily suspends fishing for spiny lobster in the Caribbean, and will take effect from tomorrow.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) has declared a closed season for spiny lobster fisheries in the Caribbean of Guatemala, from 15 March to 30 June this year.
The area covered by this restriction includes: the bays of Amatique, La Graciosa and Santa Isabel, Rio Dulce, Rio Sarstun, the English Channel and Punta de Manabique, all in the Caribbean Sea.
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas has decided to keep the quotas within the prescribed limits, to allow for recovery of stocks of bluefin tuna.
Laestrella.com.pa reports that "The international organization of fishing countries has decided to follow scientific advice and keep strict fishing quotas for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), a species that is in danger of extinction."
Following the disappearance of the red tide, fishing, importing and marketing of shellfish are once again permitted.
The ban was in effect from September 19, after the National Red Tide Commission found high levels of toxins harmful for human consumption, in some molluscs.
A statement from the Ministry of Environment of El Salvador reads:
Red tide and toxic algae in Lake Coatepeque disappears.
Due to the presence of a red tide a ban is in force on fishing, commerce and consumption of oysters, clams, mussels, snails and abalone.
A press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of El Salvador reads:
In light of the presence of a red tide, a ban is in place, starting today and indefinitely on fishing, sale and consumption of oysters, mussels, clams, snails and abalone, whether they come from .domestic production or imports.
Guatemalan authorities have banned the fishing of all kinds of tuna in Pacific waters during the period 29 July - 28 September 2012 and between November 18 - January 18, 2013.
The prohibition by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), is to allow for reproduction of tuna species such as yellowfin tuna, bigeye and skipjack.
"There is also a special closure from 29 September to 29 October in the area known as ‘Corralito ‘, ranging from the 96th meridian west, to the 110 meridian west and from latitude parallel four degrees north to three degrees latitude south", published Prensalibre.com
A closed season for fishing for shellfish will be in effect from March to June, from Belize to Panama.
The ban aims to protect the species from overfishing in the period of increased reproduction and is effective from the coasts of Belize all the way to Panama.
"In order to protect the species, from Belize to Panama a temporary suspension of fishing for spiny lobster will apply from March 1st to June 30th", said Mario Gonzalez, the AFP director of the Organization of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of Central America (OSPESCA),.
A measure has been announced in Guatemala affecting the activity of catching the Caribbean spiny lobster from March 1st to June 30th , 2012.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), has imposed a temporary ban on fishing in the Caribbean for spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), a measure that aims to enable the reproduction of the lobster population of the species in question.
The Salvadoran authorities have banned the extraction, sale and consumption of seafood after declaring a red tide alert.
The ban, which is for a period of one month, applies to pearl oysters, Japanese oysters, mussels, snails and abalone.
The measure, adopted as a precaution by the Ministries of Agriculture, Public Health and Environment and Natural Resources, through the National Red Tide Commission (CONAMA), indicates that the ban on oysters (pearl or native, Japanese or Pacific), mussels, clams, snails and abalone, is due to the fact that the diet of these species, filter feeders, means they can accumulating toxic substances harmful to the health of the population.