environment

Fishing repeal reversed

The Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (Anam) has presented a bill intended to amend a law that repealed a ban on purse-seine nets used by tuna fishers along the country’s Pacific coast.

Ligia Castro, general manager of Anam, reported that the proposal will be submitted as soon as the Asamblea Nacional’s Comisión de Ambiente convenes on Monday, Sept. 1.

The bill comes a day after President Martín Torrijos admitted the repeal was an “oversight,” and acknowledged environmentalists’ concerns that the circular nets decimated tuna populations and often trapped other sea creatures, such as dolphins and turtles.

Though environmental groups throughout the country applauded Torrijos’ decision to overturn the law, Donaldo Sousa of the Asociación de Derecho Ambiental commented that the Asamblea has a history of repealing environmental standards.

And Leslie Marín, an environmental lawyer with the Centro de Incidencia Ambiental, noted that until the ban is restored, licensed tuna boats will “enjoy a green light for fishing” in the regions specified by the newly approved law.

In response to that concern, officials at the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuático (Arap) have indicated that no new permits for tuna fishing boats will be issued during the interim.

Under similar environmental pressure, the European Commission approved a ban on purse-seine nets for bluefin tuna on June 15. Studies showed that tuna populations in the Mediterranean were on the verge of collapse.