Costa Rica prioritizes the protection of biodiversity, as evidenced by the large number of protected areas currently in place. Tourism is central to the country’s economy, driving many conservation initiatives. Costa Rica is in the process of developing a new national development plan for 2015-2019. Currently, there are initiatives for civil society governance models, such as the Marine Areas for Responsible Fishing that are of interest to the REBYC-II LAC project in the context of co-management. In 2013, Costa Rica banned shrimp trawling through a non-renewal of industrial fishing licenses program. The REBYC-II LAC project national activities include an analysis of the alternative livelihoods of fishermen who have been affected by the shrimp trawl ban.

REBYC-II LAC Pilot Sites: Costa Rica has two sites: Golfo de Nicoya and outside the Golfo de Nicoya on the Pacific coast.