By Amanda Roberson, Tico Times Staff

Surfers in the southern Pacific beach of Pavones will be catching waves for a cause tomorrow during a surf contest to speak out against a proposed tuna farm project at the mouth of the area’s Golfo Dulce, according to a statement from the nonprofit Marine Turtle Restoration Program (PRETOMA).

Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.A., a Costa Rican company with Spanish and Venezuelan capital, received the go-ahead from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) to build the farm, which would be Costa Rica’s first commercial fish-farming operation in open ocean waters (TT, June 30).

Since then, the proposed project has sparked opposition from environmentalists, area residents and fishermen concerned about environmental risks and threats to the region’s tourism industry posed by the farm (TT, July 14).

These groups filed a case before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV), and the court accepted their case for review.

“The proposed tuna farm will put sea turtles, dolphins, whales, the entire ecosystem and the communities of the Golfo Dulce at risk,” said William Mata, a member of the Association of Fishermen of Pavones. “Neither the foreign-backed tuna company nor MINAE consulted the local communities before the project was approved, but now we hope they understand that the communities of Dulce Gulf do not want an industrial tuna farm in these waters.”

All surfers are welcome to participate in the contest, according to PRETOMA spokesman Noah Anderson. It begins at 6 a.m. and will continue through the afternoon, and raffles and other fundraising events will also be held.

Divisions include ages 12 and under, 13-17, Longboard and Women’s. There is an entrance fee of ¢2,500 (about $5) for Tico and Ticas and ¢5,000 (about $10) for foreigners; all proceeds will benefit efforts to protect the Golfo Dulce. For more information on the surf contest, call PRETOMA at 241-5227 or the local Pavones surf shop at 393-6982.