Costa Rica is among the first few countries to respond immediately and favourably to the question of implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (the SSF Guidelines). In a move that extends overwhelming support to the small-scale fisheries, in particular to women in the sector, the Costa Rican government, in association with the country’s fishers and their representatives, and civil society organisations, has introduced a bill for the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. Titled ‘General Law for the sustainability of small-scale, artisanal fisheries in the context of food security, poverty eradication and shared governance’, this bill is presently under consideration by the representatives of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly.