Panama launches three‑year pilot and tourism plan to boost sport fishing

Panama’s water‑resource authority (ARAP) has initiated a three‑year pilot program to test fish‑concentrating devices (DCP) for sport and sport‑tourism fishing. The program will assess the technical, operational and environmental viability of the devices, impose a two‑nautical‑mile exclusion zone for commercial fishing around each device, require catch‑and‑release practices and collect effort data from anglers via an ARAP platform. Findings will inform future regulations under Executive Decree No. 9 of 2026.

At the same time, ARAP and the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) announced a complementary three‑year strategic plan aimed at positioning Panama as a premium destination for international sport‑fishing competitions. The plan seeks to attract foreign direct investment, develop specialised hotel infrastructure, generate jobs in coastal and island communities such as the Pearl Archipelago and Coiba National Park, and establish an inter‑agency commission to combat illegal fishing and ensure compliance with global sustainability standards.