TFIS CARIBBEAN AREA — COSTA RICA 



shore fishing is evident, for the coast of Costa Rica has been relatively 17611 explored 

 from a commercial standpoint by tuna fishermen. The Pacific coast offers a number of good 

 harbors and some fairly extensive fishing grounds, particularly in the Gulf of Nicoya. The 

 greatest emphasis thus far has been placed on items of export value such as frozen tuna and 

 shark livers. These activities can be increased greatly because sufficient resources do 

 exist. Perhaps the greatest opportunities, however, are to be found in fishing the shore 

 species for the fresh and frozen fish trade — the catch to be processed in Costa Rica and 

 sold in Costa Rican maricets or for export to other Central American communities. Consider- 

 able demand exists for dry-salt fish to be sold at reasonable prices, '^ith management, this 

 can be a considerable factor in stimulating the shore fisheries. 



Great quantities of mullet, shark, grunts, groupers, snappers, threadfins, snook, sea 

 bass, and anchovies are available along the coastal beaches and in the lagoons and estoros. 

 Doubtless, shrimp occur in considerable quantity. 



The Caribbean coast can still supply turtles and spiny lobster for specialty sale. 

 Snappers, groupers, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, and other species occur in some abundance. 

 The lagoons, doubtless, could produce many mullet, snook, tarpon, mojarra, and shrimp. If 

 Costa Rica desires to expand its national fishery industries, the raw material is at hand to 

 do so. 



The low cost and abundance of beef and other agricultural products in Costa Rica make 

 it essential that fresh fish be sold at extremely low prices to the consimier in that country 

 if large quantities of llsh are to be handled. Prices for all products have been rising 

 recently. However, the fishermen's organizations in Costa Rica continuously ask such high 

 prices for fish that the general rise in prices for foodstuffs probably will not result in 

 increased fishing activity. 



It is reasonable to suppose that about 3 million pounds of fresh fish could be marketed 

 in Costa Rica if prices were made sufficiently low to make fish available to the people. To 

 handle the increased volume, it would be necessary to place outlets in many small communities 

 not now having such facilities. Nowhere in Costa Rica is there much urban concentration of 

 people. For this reason, enlargement of the fresh- fish trade would be difficult and costly 

 and, unless large savings per unit of catch could be applied through use of mass-production 

 methods, the enlarganent of the fresh-fish trade would be highly speculative, 



RECCmiENDATIClB 



The coastal fishery resources of Costa Rica are not extensive but the Pacific offshore 

 regions offer considerable promise. Ttiere is no doubt that the shore fisheries of both 

 coasts could supply the present and potential fish reqxiirements of the Republic. Excellent 

 transportation is available from both coasts and there is sufficient ice capacity to care 

 for the needs of the fishing industry. If the Republic of Costa Piica desires enlarged fish 

 supplies, they can be provided by the following means: 



1, Introduction of methods and gear designed to produce large quantities of fish at 

 low cost. Pound nets, traps, gill nets, and haul seines could be utilized for 

 this purpose. 



2, Installation of adequate shore facilities for the collection, storage, and 

 handling of the catch at Pontarenas and other points. 



3, Construction of suitable retail marketing outlets in the interior of the 

 Republic, 



126 



