Scientists, government leaders and fishermen from 38 countries have gathered this week in the central Pacific port city of Puntarenas to discuss methods for reducing bycatch of sea turtles, marine birds and other animals in ocean longline fisheries.
The Fourth Annual International Fishers' Forum began Monday at the Hotel Fiesta in Puntarenas, overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica's most important fishing region. The four-day event includes dozens of panel discussions, presentations and a tour of the gulf.
During the opening ceremony Monday, Jim Leape, president of the World Wildlife Fund, which helped sponsor the event, said the world is in a “state of crisis” with regards to ocean fisheries.
“If we don't move quickly and decisively, we could see our fisheries collapse,” he said. “At current rates, we will exhaust our commercial fisheries by the middle of this century.”
Leape said reducing bycatch of sea turtles and other marine species in longline fisheries is an essential first step in solving the problem.
“We must launch a global initiative to change the way fishing is done. We can no longer fish in ways that are needlessly destructive, or that are not sustainable,” he said.
Carlos Villalobos, executive director of the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA), agreed, and called for unity among all the countries present to combat the problem.
“We're in a historic position to reduce our impact on the oceans and guarantee the sustainable future of our resources. Costa Rica is proud to be a part of this movement,” he said. |
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