10.-That according to the Bachelor's thesis in Marine Biology by biologist Rosa Soto, from the National University, the anchoveta populations were overexploited, which was another reason for Incopesca not to issue licenses for the fishing of this species.
11.-That in view of the new requests to fish anchoveta by small-scale fishermen of the Gulf of Nicoya, the Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) of Incopesca adopts AJDIP-497-2015, through which it requests a technical opinion from the Scientific Technical Coordination Commission (Comisión de Coordinación Científico Técnica, CCCT).
12.-That said Commission issued a technical recommendation to the Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) of Incopesca, not recommending the use of purse seine nets (chinchorro), based on the scientific research available, which determined that the anchoveta was overexploited, and therefore instead recommended the use of individual cast nets (atarrayas) and other management measures, in addition to the need to carry out new research to determine the recent status of the anchoveta population.
13.-That the Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) accepts the recommendations of the CCCT, through AJDIP-117-2016.
14.-That based on the previous point, the Department of Development and Research of Incopesca included in the institutional Operational Plan for the year 2016, the execution, through contracting, of the research "Estimation of the existing biomass of the anchoveta Cetengraulis Mysticetus, in the inner zone of the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica," which was assigned to the National University and which continued until the year 2017, when the research report was submitted to Incopesca, in the month of December of that year.
15.-That said study recommends the capture of 15,000 individuals per month/fisherman, for a total of 22 vessels, which means that only 330,000 anchovetas per month could be fished sustainably. The distribution of this catch should be carried out by Incopesca as the governing body.
16.-In view of the foregoing, the Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) of Incopesca adopts AJDIP-482-2018, through which a Technical Committee (Mesa Técnica) is created to analyze said matter, with the first meeting taking place on December 11, 2018, and in which, once the research report from the National University was more widely known, the Department of Development and Research is requested to issue a technical recommendation.
17.-The foregoing is addressed through official communication DDI-104-12-2018, addressed to this Honorable Board of Directors (Junta Directiva), through which several technical recommendations are made, all of which are based on the research report on anchoveta submitted by the National University.
a. Individuals over 15 cm (TPMS) must be captured, with the objective of mainly protecting females in such a way that, when these are captured, at least 50% of them have already reproduced.
b. 330,000 anchovetas could be fished sustainably per month. For this reason, it is recommended that this quota be distributed among the interested fishing associations, since distribution per vessel could not be equitable, as there may be many vessels wanting to use this resource. This quota must be distributed to the fishing associations by right (a derecho) and only to vessels that have up-to-date fishing licenses, whose owners must keep a catch log, which must be submitted monthly to the Statistics Department of Incopesca.
c. Each interested Association must request from Incopesca the corresponding license, which includes the use of 1 or 2 purse seine nets (chinchorros) of a total length of 40 meters, for the live capture of anchovetas.
d. The Association must have 1 or 2 holding pens (potones) of 2 x 2 x 4 meters, for the maintenance of live anchovetas, and each vessel must also have a holding pen (vivero) of 1.5 cubic meters for the same purpose.
e. This quota must be distributed to the fishing associations by right (a derecho) and only to vessels that have up-to-date fishing licenses, whose owners must keep a catch log, which must be submitted monthly to the Statistics Department of Incopesca.
18.-That director Deiler Ledezma Rojas requested that the Department of Extension and Training of Incopesca consult the Fishing Associations of the Gulf of Nicoya, regarding whether they were interested in requesting licenses for the fishing of anchoveta.
19.-That once the relevant consultations were carried out, Biól. Nixon Lara Quesada, an official of said Department, informs the Executive Presidency, via email, that the associations interested in obtaining a license for the fishing of anchoveta are the following:
. Asociación de Pescadores mixta, Montero, I. Chira.
. Asociación de Pescadores Puerto Nancite, I. Chira.
. Asociación Pro bienestar de los Pescadores de I. Chira.
. Coopepromar R.L.
. Coopeacuicultores R.L.
. Asociación de Pescadores del Distrito IV de Quebrada Honda, Pto. Pochote.
. Asoppapu.
. Asociación de Pescadores de Puerto Níspero.
. ASOPECOPA.
. SIPACAAP.
. Asociación de Pescadores Artesanales I. Venado.
. Asociación de Pescadores Unidos Colopes de Isla Caballo.
. Asociación de Pescadores Artesanales ASOPESATRANFA.
. Marinos de San Luis.
. Asociación Local Pescadores de Florida Isla Venado (ALOPE).
The Board of Directors (Junta Directiva), Therefore, AGREES: