THE FISHKRIES AMD FISHERY RESOURCES OF COSTA RICA. 



INTRODUCTION 



Ito fisheries and fishery industries of Costa Rica were studied as a part of a survey 

 of the entire Caribbean area made by a lilission of the United States Government under a 

 cooperative arrangement between the United States Department of the Interior, Fish 2md 

 Wildlife Service and the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. The Mission 

 was under the direction of Reginald H. Fiedler, Chief of the Division of Fishery Industries, 

 Fish and TVildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, and the field party in 

 Costa Rica consisted of Milton J. Lobell, Fishery Engineer and Clarence R. Lucas, Fishery 

 Economist of the Service. 



During July and August of 19^2, the Jiission visited practically all of the localities 

 in Costa Rica where extensive marine fisheries are conducted. 



For a nianber of years, Costa Hica has exported fishery commodities to the United States. 

 At the same time, the local consumption of fresh fish has been almost negligible. One of 

 the objectives of the fishery Mission, therefore, was to determine the reasons for the lack of 

 fish consumption in the interior of the country. 



Note: The Costa Rican Inter-American Development Commission through its President, 

 Sr. Manuel F. Jimenez Cortez, assisted the Mission in many ways. 



The Minn.stiTr of Agriculture of the Costa Rican Government aided by procuring background 

 information and by loaning the assistance of an employee to accanpany the Mission to 

 Puntarenas . 



Mr. Robert Scotten, United States Ivlinister to Costa Rica, and his staff aided in many 

 ways, and Charles L. Luedtke, Agricultural attache, assisted greatly. Cons-alar officers 

 helped collect material at Puntarenas and Port Limon. 



The United Fruit Company cooperated with the Mission, particularly in the Port Idmon 

 area. 



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