Despite available international conventions and national labour regulations, fishers and fish workers in Costa Rica face several gaps and decent working d deficits. In particular, fishing at sea is a very dangerous occupation characterized by long and difficult working hours and limited occupational safety and health. The combination of these factors disproportionately limits the access of fisher folk to social security schemes, credit and subsidies, training services, as well as weak engagement in collective action. The case study explores living and working conditions in small scale semi-industrial fishing sector in Costa Rica to increase the knowledge base in relation to decent work in fisheries and draws on a bibliographic review, as well as on focus group discussions and key informants interviews.