What We Do
We are a Costa Rican nonprofit NGO that represents eight Sport fishing Associations throughout the country. FECOP has been a pioneer in conservation in Costa Rica including stopping the exportation of sailfish, and sponsoring and supplying the science to protect over 200,000 square kilometers of territorial water from tuna purse seine boats in 2014. A reduction of tuna licenses sold to foreign fleets (43 down to 13) in 2017 saved 25 metric tons of marlin bycatch this year. See our many other accomplishments as well as new initiatives below.
Sport Fishing Tourism
Sport and recreational fishing has contributed actively to the coastal development of our country since its consolidation over a period of almost 70 years. Fishing clubs, tourism operators and the different stakeholders in sport fishing have contributed to the positioning of this activity, above and beyond any promotion by the State. More than 33,000 direct and indirect jobs, as well as a contribution of 500 million dollars to Costa Rica’s gross domestic product, are among the benefits obtained from this activity. In addition to this information recognized and produced by different sources, sport fishing has other less visible impacts and benefits. It represents a socioeconomic sector with a special dynamic that needs to be understood from a scientific and technical perspective so as to boost its growth and contribution to Costa Rican society. FECOP assumes this challenge and will work with the sector in the generation of knowledge to benefit both the sport fishing and the fisheries sectors and Costa Rican society as a whole.
Our Accomplishments
- Stopped the Exportation of Sailfish from Costa Rica
- Created the Largest Marine Area of Responsible Fishing in Central America, The Golfo Dulce.
- 2014 Tuna Decree Project Moving Tuna Purse Seine Boats 45 Miles Off the Coast as well as Protecting a Total of Over 200,000 Square Miles of Territorial Water from Tuna Operations
- Joined with Gray Fish-Tag Research in Tagging Operations and Scholarship Program for Costa Rica University Students to Conduct Research on Species of Sport Fishing Interest. We Will be Placing the First Tags in Roosterfish This Year.
- Invested More Than $100,000 in a Training Program With Two Go Government Agencies to Explore and Teach Selective Types of Fishing for Tuna with no Billfish Bycatch.
- 2017, With Follow Up Research on the Tuna Decree the Government was Convinced to Temporarily Ban New Tuna Licensing Reducing the Catch from 25,000 Metric Tons to 9,000 Metric Tons. This will Reduce the Billfish Bycatch from 30 Metric Tons to Just Over 5 Metric Tons Annually. FECOP is Currently Lobbying For A Permanent Ruling.
Reducing Bycatch
In 2013, FECOP showed the government that the country’s tuna resource was being given to foreign purse seine boats for as little as $37 a ton, and that the purse seiners also were affecting populations of pelagic species that attract tourists. When the purse seiners’ nets actually wrapped up some sport-fishing boats out of Los Sueños Marina as the seiners encircled a pod of spinner dolphins, it was the final straw.
In 2014, a decree was signed moving the tuna boats out 45 miles from the coast to protect numerous seamounts, creating an area of 77,220 square miles where purse seiners could no longer operate. Their catch was limited to 9,000 metric tons a year, down from a onetime high of nearly 25,000 metric tons, and that catch had to be sold to the local cannery in Puntarenas.
Moises Mug, a scientist for FECOP, analyzed observer onboard reports for the purse seine fleet in 2018 and discovered that moving the purse seiners farther out was saving 25 tons of marlin annually from ending up as seiners’ bycatch. During the past six or seven years, the recovery of various pelagic species off Costa Rica has been remarkable.
FECOP INITIATIVES
Protecting Species of Tourism Interest
We work to protect fish species that drive Costa Rica’s sport fishing and tourism economy. Advocating for protection rights for sailfish, marlin, roosterfish, tarpon and many others. We support local coastal communities who’s livelihood is dependent on sport fishing activities.
Stopping illegal and destructive fishing
Join us in our fight to stop illegal fishing which is responsible for the destruction of marine ecosystems and the killing of important species of fish and protected marine animals. Help us support Costa Rica’s recreational fishing sector and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Nurturing the future of conservation
We focus heavily on educational programs for kids including workshops and other activities. Getting kids involved in sport fishing at a young age is great way to teach them the importance of healthy oceans via sustainable fishing methods.
