The company responsible for a proposed tuna aquaculture project at the mouth of the Golfo Dulce, to be built adjacent to Pavones classic surf on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, was found to have drafted fake letters of support and forged signatures in its environmental impact assessment. 

“No Tuna Farms” campaign members obtained these letters and were shocked to read statements of support from men and women adamantly opposed to the project.  An ensuing investigation uncovered how company researchers asked ambiguous questions to local community members, whose answers were then manipulated into supporting statements for the project.

The evidence was presented to the Costa Rican government and forced officials to make the trip to the site to re-interview the individuals whose statements and signatures had been falsified.  In light of this corruption revelation, the opposition to the project are hopeful that the project's permits will be revoked. Paired with the project’s environmental threats in one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions and its proximity to Pavones, one of the world’s longest waves and a crown jewel for surfers everywhere, it is obvious to us that this project must be soundly defeated.

In addition to working to stop the tuna farms, local NGOs and community groups are campaigning to legally designate the Golfo Dulce as a Marine Reserve whereby making it illegal to construct an aquaculture project of this magnitude.

Granjas Atuneras proposes to construct up to 80 steel cages at the mouth of the gulf to fatten and export wild yellow fin tuna. The project poses serious environmental concerns for the area because the Golfo Dulce’s currents could sweep the farm-produced fish excrement, chemicals, growth hormones and food waste into the gulf and along beachfront communities.

> For more information please visit Pretoma.org and read the report here by Save The Waves.