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Marlin Magazine was proud to attend the 2nd Annual Alfombra Azul (or Blue Carpet) event hosted by FECOP on October 10 in San José, Costa Rica. The gathering marked a significant moment in the nation’s recreational fishing and marine‐conservation community, drawing more than 300 attendees from across the country — including representatives from major marinas and tournament hosts (Los Sueños, Marina Pez Vela, Crocodile Bay, Marina Bahía Golfito), diplomats from Costa Rica’s government, and international groups such as the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.
FECOP (Federación Costarricense de Pesca Turística) is a Costa Rican nonprofit NGO dedicated to promoting healthy, sustainable fisheries for species of tourism interest, conserving marine ecosystems, and safeguarding the livelihoods of coastal communities. It represents eight sport-fishing associations across the country and plays a leading role in science-based policy advocacy, conservation initiatives, community engagement, and educational outreach.
The Alfombra Azul kicked off in the afternoon with a strong focus on research: poster sessions and talks spotlighted ongoing initiatives throughout Costa Rica, many centered on game fish species and marine restoration. This provided a base of scientific grounding as participants mingled during registration and the social hour.
As evening fell, a formal session commenced with a lineup of compelling speakers drawn from academia, politics, conservation, fisheries science, and angling tourism. Though diverse in scope, the presentations were united around the theme of sustainable management and long-term protection of Costa Rica’s marine resources. One particularly striking slide compared economic sectors: sport fishing generates about USD $520 million per year, whereas cruise tourism contributes USD $29.9 million, and coffee exports bring in USD $276 million. That statistic served as a powerful reminder of the often-undervalued weight of sport fishing in Costa Rica’s economy.
The evening wound down with a refined dinner under the cool San José night at the beautiful Hotel Hacienda Belen, giving guests time to talk strategy, build networks, and reinforce a shared commitment to safeguarding Costa Rica’s fishery ecosystems.
Now in its second year, FECOP’s Alfombra Azul event is already showing clear growth in both profile and participation — and Marlin Magazine is convinced it will continue growing as a central platform for bringing together the many stakeholders with a vested interest in Costa Rica’s marine future. The event underscores FECOP’s ability to convene influential actors — government officials, private industry, scientists, NGOs, tour operators, and anglers — around a shared agenda.
More than just a glitzy showcase, the Alfombra Azul event signals a maturing voice for recreational angling in Costa Rica — one that aims to counterbalance stronger commercial pressures on fisheries and to elevate fishing tourism’s strategic role in national policy. Marlin Magazine looks forward to continuing to support and spotlight FECOP’s leadership and the vital discussions born at events like this.
