The Law of Fisheries, Aquaculture and related activities was published in the Official Gazette. The law promotes the training of fishermen and establishes the participation of the sector in decision making.
The new legal framework establishes a National Fisheries Conservation and Administration Plan, creates the National Fisheries Information and Statistics System, eliminates discretionally in fisheries management and promotes good fishing practices.
About 153,000 visitors annually come to the country to fish for recreational purposes, and the activity generates a chain of business of about $500 million annually.
According to a study conducted by the Costa Rican Fishing Federation (Fecop), most of the income reported in the country by sport and tourist fishing derives from the arrival of tourists interested in the activity, who generate annual revenues of $460 million.
Since April 19, new prices for permits and licenses were announced in Honduras for the different fishing activities and sale of products in the sector.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock:
May 11.New fees for the payment of permits and licenses in the different fishing activities and marketing of fishery products, have been established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), through the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture, (DIGEPESCA), which became effective as of April 19, 2018.
In Nicaragua, a law is being prepared to facilitate concessions for the development of marinas, piers and yacht clubs, with the aim of encouraging tourist activities such as sport fishing.
The bill is an initiative by private sector entrepreneurs, who want to attract foreign investment to develop tourist activities that are centered around marinas, such as sport fishing.
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.
From November 9th to 13th companies in the sector will be meeting in Panama City to discuss issues related to sustainable use of marine resources and innovation in fishing methods.
The Fisheries Institute of the Gulf and the Caribbean reports that "... the focus of the event which will be "Two oceans, same coastal issues," reflects the interest of the membership of the GCFI, to include their peers from the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Costa American Pacific from southern Baja California in Mexico to northern Peru) at the annual meetings, with the intention of optimizing experiences and sharing lessons learned from facing similar problems, challenges and opportunities on both coasts of the Americas.
From April 12th to 17th 316 participants from 27 countries will be competing in the World Fishing Championship to be held in Quepos, Puntarenas.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT):
Costa Rica to host the World Fishing Championship 2015
* Tournament will be held from 12 to 17 April in Marina Pez Vela, Quepos.
* The competition will feature the participation of 316 fishermen from 27 countries.
Through an initiative of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute development of sport fishing in the Pacific will be encouraged.
With the creation of the National Commission for the Protection of the Sailfish, the authorities intend to promote the growth of sportfishing tourism in the country, a sector that has been gaining greater prominence in recent years in countries such as Guatemala,Costa Rica and Panama.
Only three tourist marinas are operating, while several projects are stuck in bureaucratic processes, opposition from environmentalists, and consequent difficulties of financing.
An article in Elfinancierocr.com reviews several stories of failed projects for the development of marinas designed to take advantage of the country's reputation as a destination for sea, beach, and fishing tourism.
Two tourism projects, one on the beach and another on the mountains, are being built in Chalatenango and Usulután.
The projects have a total investment of $45 million and are being developed by entrepreneur Jose Ramon Barahona from El Salvador along with US investors. They consist of a golf and fishing club in Usulután and a mountain tourism project in Chalatenango which would begin to operate in late 2010 or early 2011.