Panama’s aquatic resources authority has removed some 1,500 pounds of disused fishing nets from the Punta Chame area through its Canje Azul program, an initiative that pays fishermen in food bags in exchange for retired gear in an effort to curb the threat posed by so-called ghost nets to marine ecosystems.
What Happened
The Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá (ARAP) carried out the program in Punta Chame, where fishermen handed over approximately 1,500 pounds of fishing nets that were no longer in use. In return, they received bags of food.
The effort took place as part of the Month of the Oceans and drew participants from fishing associations in Playa Chiquita, San Carlos, Puerto Caimito, Espavé and Punta Chame. Representatives and council members from the district of Chame also took part.
ARAP Secretary General Víctor Tam said the initiative aims to involve fishermen in protecting aquatic resources by removing materials that can upset the balance of the marine ecosystem.
“Canje Azul reflects the importance of joining efforts to protect our aquatic resources and at the same time contributes to the well-being of our fishing communities,” Tam said.
Background
Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded at sea. Because most modern fishing gear is built from durable synthetic materials, these nets can persist in the marine environment for long periods after they are no longer used.
The danger is that they keep fishing long after they are abandoned. Drifting or snagged on the seabed, ghost nets continue to trap fish, sea turtles, crustaceans and other marine life, a phenomenon often called ghost fishing. This kills animals indiscriminately, reduces biodiversity and cuts into the fish stocks that coastal communities depend on for their livelihoods.
Punta Chame, a narrow peninsula on Panama’s Pacific coast in the district of Chame, west of Panama City, is home to fishing communities whose economic well-being is tied directly to the health of nearby waters. For these communities, removing ghost gear is as much an economic measure as an environmental one.
The Month of the Oceans framing ties the cleanup to broader regional efforts to raise awareness about ocean conservation, a priority for a country whose economy and identity are closely linked to its coasts and waterways.
What This Means for Panama
The Canje Azul program addresses two problems at once: marine debris that damages ecosystems and fisheries, and the economic pressure facing small-scale fishing communities. By exchanging old nets for food, ARAP gives fishermen a direct incentive to retire hazardous gear rather than leave it in the water or on shorelines.
The removal of 1,500 pounds of nets from the Punta Chame area means fewer traps for marine life in those waters and a reduced risk to local fish stocks that artisanal fishermen rely on.
The strong turnout from fishing associations across five communities, along with local officials from the district of Chame, suggests the program has buy-in from the people most affected by declining fish stocks, which is often the hardest part of conservation work.
What to watch next is whether ARAP expands Canje Azul to other coastal areas of Panama. Ghost nets are not unique to Punta Chame, and the exchange model, which pairs environmental cleanup with food assistance, could be replicated elsewhere along the country’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts if the pilot results are judged a success.
This story was originally reported by La Prensa.