COSTA RICA 



15/ 



Shrimp fishing for export to the United 

 States is on the increase in Costa Rica. Fishing 

 grounds are liiriited, and it is estimated that only 

 1 to 2 million pounds, headless weight, can be 

 produced a year. The 1955 catch was slightly over 

 300,000 pounds, headless v;eight. Fishing occurs 

 only on the west coast; the east coast is not ex- 

 pected to produce much. Foreign-flag vessels are 

 permitted to fish in Costa Rica. 



COMERCIAL SPECIES AND FISHING GROUNDS 



Commercial shrimp fishing in Costa Rica is limited to the 

 Pacific coast, where six species of shr'jjiip appear more or less regularly 

 in the catches. Penaeus occidentalis and P. stylirostris attain the 

 largest size, are sought more, and consequently are the most important 

 commercially. These white shrimp, called "camaron bianco," are the 

 only species exported. About 75 percent are under 15 to the pound, 

 headless, and 25 percent are 16 to 20. Sizes smaller than 16-20 are 

 rarely caught by the fishing fleet. 



The smaller-sized species, Trachypeneus faoe , T. byrdi , 

 Xiphopeneus riveti , and Protrachypene precipua , are sold on the local 

 markets . The fishermen and dealers do not make a distinction between 

 the species of this group; all are called brown shrimp. In Puntarenas 

 these shrimp, fresh headless, were retailing for about 30 cents per 

 pound. In San Jose the price ranged between 3k cents and h5 cents per 

 pound. Jumbo white shrir?), fresh headJ.ess, were retailing in San Jose 

 for about 60 to 68 cents per pound. 



Owing to the precipitous nature of most of Costa Rica's 

 Pacific coast, both nursery grounds for the yo\mg and feeding groxinds 

 for the adults are limited. There are but three areas that now are 

 commercially productive, the Gulf of Nicoya, Coronado Bay, and the 

 Gulf of Dulce. More than 300,000 pounds, headless weight, of shrimp 

 were produced on these grounds in 1955, whereas probably only about 

 100,000 pounds were taken in 195U. 



15/ The survey of Costa Rica was made during February 1956, and this 

 date, unless otherwise specified, is implied when current events or 

 prices are a].luded to. 



U3 



