Comparative analysis of IUU fishing in MPAs of the North Pacific of Costa Rica and the Région Sud of France: causes and effectiveness of preventive and repressive measures

Over the last three decades, global awareness of ocean degradation has grown, with one of the major issues being illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Addressing this complex problem requires further investigation and information, as it has significant social and ecological consequences that impact socioeconomically vulnerable coastal communities worldwide. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are essential tools for managing coastal socio-ecosystems, regulating human activity at sea, ensuring sustainable fishery management, and preserving fish stocks and their associated habitats. This research aims to understand these factors and how they are linked to IUU fishing in MPAs in Costa Rica and France.

Costa Rica is an interesting case for studying marine management challenges due to its rich biodiversity and nearly five decades of conservation history. The country has been actively working to improve its marine area management. The North Pacific region of Costa Rica has unique socioeconomic and environmental characteristics, featuring diverse marine-coastal ecosystems. However, it is also one of the country's areas most affected by socioeconomic issues, where coastal communities rely on fishing for survival, and IUU fishing plays a critical role. The rapid growth of tourism and the fishing sector in this region is putting increasing pressure on its ecosystems.

Similarly, the French Mediterranean coast faces intense pressure on its ecosystems and local communities. Here, communities involved in fishing activities also experience social and environmental challenges. Overfishing has drastically altered the coastal ecosystems, making the Mediterranean one of the world’s most heavily exploited areas. In response, several MPAs with different legal statuses have been established along the French Mediterranean coast since 1963.

The primary objective of this research is to “Compare the relationship between the causal factors of IUU fishing by artisanal fishers and the effectiveness of prevention and enforcement measures implemented by government institutions in the MPAs of Costa Rica’s North Pacific and the Région Sud of France.” The study applies the Social-Ecological System Framework (SESF), which facilitates interdisciplinary analysis. This framework provides a comprehensive list of concepts to analyze socio-ecological systems (SES), enabling identification of critical components and relationships essential to understanding SES. It will be used to analyze primary and secondary data from France and Costa Rica to compare the situations in both countries and draw applicable lessons.