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Coalition of Groups Demonstrates to Oppose Planned Tuna Farm |
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Written by Admin
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Tuesday, 11 July 2006 |
July 11, 2006 – San Jose, Costa Rica
In the National Park next to the Costa Rican Legislature, diverse groups from the south Pacific region of the country, including fishermen, chambers of tourisms, the indigenous community Guaymi, development associations, businesses, scientists, senators and conservation organizations today held a press conference and demonstration against a plan, already approved by the government, to install a tuna farm at the mouth of the Dulce Gulf.
Construction of the farm would commence within 6 months according to the company Granjas Atuneras S.A. established by foreign interests from Spain, Venezuela and Peru.
Groups opposed to the project point out that the tuna farms would cause severe damage to the Gulf and the local communities, and the government ignored these risks. They also criticize the government for violating multiple national laws in the process of approving the project and the fact that local communities were not consulted.
“Today we make clear that communities on the south Pacific coast oppose the installation of tuna farms at the mouth of the Dulce Gulf,” states Denise Echeverría of the Foundation Vida Marina. “No one from the region was consulted during the process of granting permits to foreign interests for a project that would damage the natural resources we depend on, our livelihoods and our families. Today therefore, we say no to tuna farms, yes to the Dulce Gulf.”
“A series of national legislation was violated by the Ministry of Environment and the Fishery Department in the process of approving the project and there was zero transparency,” states Jorge Ballestero, Vice-president of PRETOMA. “It appears that permits were granted as political favors to foreign interests without involving local communities who are working to protect the Dulce Gulf, and we do not permit that.”
The groups have filed lawsuits at the Supreme Court, the Environmental Tribunal, the Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Secretariat calling for the nullification of the permits.
GROUPS PRESENT AT THE DEMONSTRATION
Cámara de Turismo de Golfito, Cámara de Pescadores de Golfito, Empresarios industriales de Golfito, Empresarios turísticos de Golfito, Cámara de Pescadores de Zancudo, Cámara de Pescadores de Punta Banco, Pescadores de Río Claro, Comunidad Indígena Guaymí, Empresarios Turísticos de Punta Banco, Fundación Tiskita, Empresarios Turísticos de Puerto Jiménez, Representantes del grupo Mujeres de la Osa, Grupo ASOCOVIRENA, Asociaciones de desarrollo de Puerto. Jiménez, Asociación PRETOMA, grupos de estudiantes y otros.
For more information please contact:
Denise Echeverría – +(506) 393-6554
Jorge Ballestero – +(506) 241-5227
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 11 July 2006 )
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