Costa Rica

Notwithstanding the enormous marine wealth of the country, which has increase dramatically with the tenfold increase in Costa Rica’s territorial waters; the country has a small-scale fishing industry. Both the small fishing fleet and scant infrastructure for deriving benefits from these natural resources are still in their infancy and are only now receiving significant help from the state. Up to now they have counted on the help provided by friendly nations, particularly Taiwan and Spain, the state supports and encourages the formation of cooperatives. Taiwan collaborates in investigations into better fishing methods and sea-fish farming; Spain cooperates in the training of sailors and in the improvement of fishing-ship design by means of the National Trade Institute. Fishing as a sport is more highly developed and has special areas for sport competitions, specially as regards the fishing of sailfish and bass, which attract both amateurs and professionals from the country itself and from many others countries around the world.