Fishing vessel Tiuna was confiscated in January this year and has been anchored off the coast of Puntarenas with 280 tons of tuna. The owner of the boat await a decision on the future of the vessel, after it was found illegally fishing off the shores of the Isla del Coco in the Pacific ocean. The ships cargo has been kept on ice but all could end soon as the ship is expected to run out of fuel at any moment.
The state agency Incopesca has the responsibility to keep the ship supplied with diesel fuel to run the refrigeration system after a Tribunal de Puntarenas (court) ordered the vessel in the care of Incopesca in February. Victor Herrera, lawyer for the owners of the fishing boat, accuses Incopesca for not supplying the fuel required. He also said that once the boat runs out of fuel, the owners don’t have the money to buy more to keep the refrigeration system running, which will mean the cargo will spoil within 48 hours or less.
According to the court ruling Incopesca should supply the boat with fuel while it continues tied up legally. But Herrera said that Incopesca failed to do so even the owners have paid out some one million dollars. The court has ordered Incopesca to reimburse the money. Incopesca refused to comment on this.
