environment

Anam questioned about Coiba case

A company with political connections has avoided punishment so far for illegal hunting and fishing.

LA PRENSA

Off limits:No fishing is allowed in Parque Nacional Coiba.1032635

Questions are being raised about whether a politically-connected company will be fined or otherwise sanctioned after two of its boats were caught fishing illegally in Parque Nacional Coiba (PNC) two weeks ago.

The boats, America VI and America IX, are owned by the company Naves América, S.A. The company's chairman, Fotis Lymberópulos, is a member of the board of directors of the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos, which is tasked with protecting coastal and aquatic resources.

Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (Anam) officials said they have received no report of its regional office in Veraguas imposing a fine on the company, but noted that the office is not required to submit that documentation.

Anam's Regional Director, Francisco Carrizo, refused to discuss the matter but did say that no fine has been imposed.

On May 21, Carrizo had said that the case was "quite serious" and hinted that a criminal trial was possible.

Naves América could face a fine of up to $1 million, depending on the seriousness of the crime. The violators could also face between two and four years in prison, according to the new penal code.

Local fishermen said that sanctions are often handed down immediately, but that this case is being handled differently.

The boat America VI was caught inside the park's boundaries with yellowfin tuna. The crew of America IX was allegedly hunting iguanas on Isla Jicarita, which is inside the national park.