The Case of Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.A.
On May 9, 2007, Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court “suspended the execution” of Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S. A’s. tuna farm project in Punta Banco, Golfito. The Court ruled that the risk of pollution to the Golfo Dulce from metabolic wastes produced by the tuna was not properly addressed in the Environmental Impact Assessment or by the project’s director Eduardo Velarde. Furthermore, the court ruled to uphold the “suspension of execution”, until studies were carried out that guaranteed that the metabolic wastes posed no environmental threats.
Unfortunately, the Environment’s Technical Secretariat (Setena), is now attempting to circumvent the ruling. In its Resolution 3170-2008 issued last November 6, 2008, Setena reapproved the project, concluding that the Constitutional Court’s judges simply misinterpreted the Environmental Impact Assessment. At Setena’s request, the University of Costa Rica’s Center for Marine Research (Cimar) submitted a study on the possible effects that metabolic wastes would have on the environment. However, since Cimar’s report called for the implementation of long term studies to thoroughly determine these impacts, Setena promptly dismissed it as being useless.
Pretoma and Biota Consultores filed appeals in reaction to the ruling. On February 16, Setena rejected both appeals (Resolution 377-2009). The Environmental Secretariat, charged with overseeing the environmental feasibility of development projects in Costa Rica, has been a staunch supporter of Granjas Atuneras de Golifto S.A. This denotes how Setena is more of a political secretariat than an environmental one.
Now, the final decision lies with the Minister of Environment, to whom annulment requests of Setena’s decision were immediately filed. As of this date, the Minister has not referred to the case, and can take as long as he wants to decide.
What’s at Stake
Granjas Atuneras Golfito’s tuna farm project offers little if any economic feedback for the rural communities that surround the Golfo Dulce. What’s more, the project threatens to disrupt the gulf’s delicate ecosystem, a natural resource that supports local fisheries and sustainable tourism opportunities. Survey results of the local population show an overwhelming anti-tuna farm sentiment; however, with few expendable resources to allocate to derailing the project, more powerful political and economical intentions are driving the proposal closer to implementation.
What can we do?
A coalition of NGOs and local business owners are designing a campaign that will foment support against the tuna farms, unite public opinion, and ultimately protect the Golfo Dulce both in the near and distant future.
The ultimate goal is to stop the tuna farm threat once and for all.
Our short term goal is to convince the current Minister of Environment, whose term will end in less than a year, that Setena’s ruling is contrary to the Constitutional Court’s mandate, and that any decision to approve the project would immediately result in a constitutional lawsuit against him, in conjunction with a wave of public discontent. To do this, we need to make the Minister aware of the Costa Rican people’s, and more specifically local citizens and businesses from Golfito and surrounding communities, overwhelming support for the well being of the Golfo Dulce.
Our longer term goal will be to work with the future Minister of Environment and convince him/her to wait for a public referendum before ruling on the project. The referendum, or public vote, will be held in August, 2010. A popular vote places the decision making process in the hands of those most affected by the project and not with an international corporation with political ties to Costa Rica.
What we need to do
For our shorter term goal, it will be necessary to do several activities:
a) Place several full page advertisements in La Nación, Costa Rica’s largest and most prestigious newspaper, as well as in other influential newspapers (La Extra, Al Día), calling for the public to show their support by signing and faxing the advertisement to Costa Rica’s president, Oscar Arias
b) Produce a 50 second TV Public Service Announcement to be broadcast on Costa Rica’s main TV channels
c) Produce flyers, brochures and t-shirts
d) Update a website for electronic “sign-ons”
e) Organize a formal coalition against the tuna farms
For our longer term goal, it will be necessary to:
a) Lobby the new government’s political Ministers and Deputies
b) Hold events against the tuna farms (debates in colleges, schools, newspapers and other media)
c) Hold a referendum in August, 2010
Budget
Tuna Farm National Campaign Budget (June 2009-May 2010):
Part time campaigner $6000
Full page adds (2) $5000
50 sec TV PSA $2000
50 sec Radio PSA $1000
Printed Materials $5000
Web site one year $1000
Coalition Meetings $2000
TOTAL $22,000.00
Tuna Farm Golfo Dulce Campaign Budget (June –August – 2010)
Full page adds $5000
50 sec TV PSA $2000
50 sec Radio PSA $1000
Printed materials $2000
Referendum (Biota Consultores) $12000
TOTAL $22,000.00
How can I donate?
A bank account in dollars at Costa Rica’s Banco Nacional has been opened solely for those wishing to donate to the tuna farm campaign: Account number 100-02-148-600286-2 under the name, Asoc. Programa Restauración de Tortugas Marinas
Pretoma is a Costa Rican NGO with tax exempt status for national corporations. We also have tax exempt status in the United States.
Please, contact us at inaranjo@pretoma.org or info@pretoma.org for information if you are interested in doing an international bank wire, or are planning on filing this as a tax exempt donation in the United States.
You can also write a check made out to “Pretoma”, and mail it to:
Pretoma
1203-1100
Tibás, San José
Costa Rica
PS: Don’t forget to include a note “earmarking” the donation for the Tuna Farm Campaign
Pretoma is a Costa Rican Civil Association declared of Public Interest, and is an active member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).
