OHMCR The Best Costa Rica Travel Guide

A significant group of several artisan and sport fishing organizations as well as environmentalists, gathered last week in Costa Rica’s Southern region to discuss several marine conservation issues.

The meeting took place in Puerto Jimenez located on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast.  One of the main issues discussed at the meeting was in reference to the practices of large shrimp vessels which use the trawling method for catching shrimp.

The trawling method used by these vessels consists in dragging a large trawl net across the ocean floor.  The nets scoop up everything in their path: shrimp, all sorts of fish and marine life including the endangered sea turtle.  The unwanted sea animals are called ‘bycatch’ and are often dumped on deck dead or dying.  The fishermen then pick out the shrimp and dump everything back into the sea.

This method is unfortunately widely used and has one of the highest levels of bycatch.  The artisan fishers which make a living off of tourism in the Golfo Dulce region have been highly affected by the constant destruction of marine life by these shrimp vessels.  The local environmentalists and artisan fishermen are aware that by every pound of shrimp that is collected, 3 pounds of bycatch are destroyed.

In Costa Rica alone, the shrimp industry processes from 6,000 to 8,000 metric tons of bycatch per year.  Artisan and Sports fishermen complain that while they must make ends meet in order to make a living, large shrimp companies are destroying tons of marine life.

A public manifesto was created during the meeting and has been addressed to the president of the National Fishing Organization, INCOPESCA.  Within the petitions included, the organization has asked for the prohibition of shrimp trawling in the Golfo Dulce area as well as the prohibition of shrimp vessels to disembark their catch on the Golfito Municipal Dock.

written by fernando \\ tags: INCOPESCA, National Fishing Organization, Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez, Puerto Jimenez fishermen

The Costa Rican Cow Parade Edition has come to an end while locals and foreigners reluctantly say farewell to what had become a pleasant fixation in San Jose main parks and plazas.

Organizers have put together a unique event which will allow fans to see their favorite cows for the last time.

On Sunday, August 3rd, fans will be able to head out to the Paseo Colon in downtown San Jose to enjoy a parade in honor of the Cow Parade. The theme and special guests has been provided by the recently opened agricultural and livestock theme park, Panaca.

Several live farm animals will parade down the streets of the Paseo Colon alongside the stars of the Cow Parade. Live cows, ox, horses, sheep, pigs, goats and dogs will entertain the crowd along with live traditional music provided by the rural cimarrona.

The parade will kick off at 9:30am from the Paseo Colon and will end at the Central Park. Other acts such as typical dances, lassoing cowboys and dog tricks will put an extra spice to this event.

The auctioning of the cows will be divided into two events. The first auction will take place on September 3rd at the Costa Rican National Museum. A total of 60 cows will be auctioned during this first event and another 60 during a second event which is still to be announced.

Prices for each unique hand painted cow will begin at $2,000 and some are expected to reach at least $7,000. A 70% of the money obtained from these auctions will be donated to 4 different organizations.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: Costa Rican National Museum, INCOPESCA, National Fishing Organization, National Geographic in Costa Rica, Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez