10.—That a modern legal framework guaranteeing the sustainable use of the sea's living resources does not exist, nor does a management and regulatory plan for marine-coastal resources exist, which is aggravated by the deficient conservation and commercialization mechanisms for fishery products.
11.—That technical studies conducted by various organizations warn that the Exclusive Economic Zone of Costa Rica is being negatively impacted by significant reductions in species populations during the last 10 years due to overfishing, which motivates the adoption of emergency measures by the Executive Branch.
12.—That based on the General Law of Public Administration, the political stewardship of environmental matters and matters relating to marine-coastal resources corresponds to the Minister of Environment and Energy; therefore, in the exercise of his functions, he may direct the activities of the sector's institutions in accordance with the environmental policies of the Executive Branch and the current National Development Plan, with the coordination of the fisheries sector and the aquaculture sector corresponding to the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, in accordance with its Constitutive Law number 7384 of March 16, 1994.
13.—That said authority entails the obligation to ensure that the organization and functioning of the sector's institutions adequately respond to the requirements of the laws in force and to the provisions regarding planning, so that they are compatible with the policies and actions of the other sectors, for which purpose the rational and integrated use of available resources must be ensured and inter-institutional, public and private, national and international collaboration must be promoted.
14.—The Executive Branch affirms its commitment and responsibility to ensure the creation of appropriate conditions so that, before January of the year two thousand six, marine protected areas can be identified and declared in which fishing activities and sustainable use may be carried out in up to twenty-five percent of Costa Rica's exclusive economic zone. Consequently, the obligation of government institutions to facilitate and provide information that contributes to the assessment, estimation, and determination of these marine protected areas is established. Therefore, THEY DECREE: