Tuna Farm Aquaculture Project Stopped
On Monday November 7, 2011 Costa Rica’s Environmental Secretariat (SETENA), via official document 2723-2011, stated it would no longer consider Granjas Atuneras de Golfito SA’s petition to construct a yellow fin tuna aquaculture project, or tuna farm, at the mouth of the Golfo Dulce. SETENA’s decision permanently closes the case on Granjas Atuneras’ (the company responsible for the project) 7 year campaign to bring industrial aquaculture to Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific coast.
Concerned Pavones Fishing Association president William Mata points out the proposed tuna farm location earlier this year (foto: Andy Bystrom)
SETENA’s decision to stop the tuna farms was based on an existing Supreme Court order against the project, the company’s apparent falsification of information in its environmental impact assessment, and the expiration of project permission granted by SETENA in 2004 and in 2008, among other factors.
“So many people worked to stop the tuna farms: Golfo Dulce residents, the Pavones No Tuna Farms Association (ANAGA), the international surfing community, national and international NGOs, attorneys, and many more,” said Andy Bystom, a Pretoma consultant. “On behalf of everyone involved, we’d like to applaud SETENA’s decision to stop this project.”
Approval of the project would have meant the installment of up to 80 circular tuna cages located 1 km off the coast of some of Costa Rica’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches. Tuna aquaculture would have also been a major contributor to biological waste that could have potentially degraded water quality along economically important surfing and ecotourism areas, as well as negatively impacted local fish stocks.
One caveat in the tuna farms episode relates to recent free trade agreements between Costa Rica and China that allow for the commercialization of farm raised tuna. Because of these new economic relationships, more industrial aquaculture projects could be proposed in the near future. “For this reason, it’s imperative we continue to gather information on the importance of maintaining the environmental integrity of our coasts both for the economic development of local communities and for the protection of endangered species,” said Bystrom.
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November 10th, 2011 at %I:%M %p
Tuna farm stopped!!!!!
November 13th, 2011 at %I:%M %p
Quiero felicitar a las miles de personas que se sumaron a esta campaña a lo largo de estos años, es una victoria para el pueblo de Costa Rica.
November 13th, 2011 at %I:%M %p
Way to go Pretoma. Nice job Andy. We, the former people of the Western Reserve, know how to get things done.
November 13th, 2011 at %I:%M %p
When today’s CI officer, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, was the minister for the environment expressed himself in favor of the tuna fish farming business in Costa Rica by asking the official INCOPESCA to give the permits for the company. Thanks to the inhabitants of Golfito and surrounded areas the project was stopped as soon as in started. Others, like PRETOMA came after them, as it usually happens with that NGO.
November 17th, 2011 at %I:%M %p
Si la lucha nació en Golfito y Puerto Jiménez ante la indiferencia de los que después la vieron como buena para figurar, eso debería reconocerse. Ya PRETOMA cansa con su juego.
November 26th, 2011 at %I:%M %p
Imagen oculta de PRETOMA——–
http://www.coescomunicacion.com/media/sites/default/files/coesnotas/2011/noviembre/25/CostaRica/MedioAmbiente/Matutina/Nacional_SetenaGranjasAtuneras_25Noviembre2011.mp3
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