Every year from May 1st to July 3rd, Costa Rica presses pause on most fishing activity in the Gulf of Nicoya, one of the country’s most ecologically rich and economically important marine regions. This isn’t just a seasonal timeout—it’s a carefully timed strategy to let the ocean regenerate. During these months, fish like snapper, corvina, white mullet, and shrimp enter their breeding season, releasing eggs and ensuring the next generation of marine life has a chance to thrive. If left uninterrupted, these eggs hatch into juveniles that help maintain healthy population levels. Without this pause, those future fish could be swept up before they’re even born. By enforcing the seasonal ban, Costa Rica is ensuring that both its fish stocks and the communities that rely on them can continue for years to come.
The Gulf of Nicoya is a crucial estuary on the Pacific coast, supporting more than 1,400 small-scale and artisanal fishers from coastal areas like Chomes, Isla Chira, and Puntarenas. Overfishing, warming waters, pollution, and habitat destruction have all placed immense pressure on this once-abundant ecosystem. Climate change is shifting breeding cycles and migration routes. Agricultural runoff and plastic waste are damaging breeding grounds. And illegal fishing—particularly bottom trawling—continues to pose serious threats. The seasonal ban gives these strained waters a fighting chance to recover.
The area covered by the ban stretches from Punta Torres (Peñón) and Faro de Isla Negritos to Punta Cuchillos and the Tempisque River mouth. Most commercial fishing is suspended in this region, although hand-line barracuda fishing is permitted in designated zones (B and C) with special licenses. Mollusk gathering is generally allowed, unless a red tide—a toxic algal bloom—forces a halt. Aquaculture operations such as fish and shrimp farms continue as usual, since they don’t impact wild spawning cycles.
To support fishers during this downtime, Costa Rica offers a monthly subsidy of ₡145,000 (around $230) through its social support programmes. But this isn’t just a payout—it’s part of a broader conservation collaboration. In return, many fishing collectives work on public service projects like painting schools, restoring mangroves, cleaning public beaches, and patrolling sea turtle nesting sites. These fishers also receive training in sustainable practices and safe seafood handling, helping elevate industry standards and reinforce a conservation mindset.
Enforcement is handled by INCOPESCA (Costa Rica’s fisheries authority) in coordination with the Coast Guard. Drones, sea patrols, and even satellite tracking are used to detect illegal activity. Yet enforcement isn’t perfect. Trawling still occurs in some areas, and critics argue the ban doesn’t always match the peak spawning times for all species, especially corvina. Ongoing research and policy tweaks are needed to maximise effectiveness.
Public awareness also plays a key role. Government agencies and fishing cooperatives run radio and social media campaigns, and legal catches are clearly labelled at fish markets. The message is straightforward: buy responsibly sourced seafood and support the health of the Gulf. By doing so, consumers become conservation partners.
Ultimately, this seasonal ban reflects Costa Rica’s broader vision of balancing economic livelihoods with ecological responsibility. Letting the ocean rest during its most vulnerable time is one of the simplest—and smartest—ways to ensure that fishing remains a way of life, not just for today, but for generations to come.
