It has been up until now dreadfully difficult to build a new marina in Costa Rica.  For years the only one in the country was Los Sueños, located at Playa Herradura near Jaco beach.  Within the last year another marina, the Marina Papagayo, has opened its slips to massive luxury yachts.  There are several other projects in various stages of administrative approval.  The problem is that administrative approvals have been the “black hole” for marina developers.  A hole from which hardly anyone ever escaped.  That all could be changing now with the new “Ley de Marinas” approved last week by the legislature. The new law tightens up certain environmental controls and enforces compliance with Costa Rica’s Equal Opportunities for the Disabled law. But were the beauty lies for developers, at least potentially, is the way it clarifies and streamlines the approval process and allows for a much faster pace of gaining the myriad of administrative approvals and concessions necessary to push a marina project to actual construction.  Is it a good thing?  Well not all of the “diputados” (or legislative representatives) agree.  Some, like Ana Helena Chacón, believe that it is essential for promoting more tourism in coastal communities and thus more jobs and economic development.  On the other hand, Olivier Pérez doesn’t like marinas in the least.  He says they are only for the benefit of a select few..a very rich select few.  He also claims that large luxury marinas displace the local population and can lead to social unrest.  He nevertheless voted for the measure, because the regulation offered by the new law is better than what is on the books currently.  I have been saying for some time that Costa Rica could use another marina or two, but that doesn’t mean the floodgates should be open allowing a dozen to fast-track towards completion.  There are serious social and environmental implications posed by marina development and each situation should be reviewed carefully.  Also, in the end the ticos living and working in the communities affected should have the final word.

Link to Article in La Nación