A SHORT, DESCRIPTIVE REPORT COVERING THE PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE COSTA RICAN COAST; MARINE SPECIES UTILIZED; THE FISHERMEN; PRODUCTION; ARTISANAL FISHING METHODS; FISHING ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS; THE MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION SECTOR; PLANS, PROGRAMS, AND GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT; AND THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT. ARTISANAL FISHERMEN PRODUCE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FISH CLASSIFIED AS "WHITE" FISH, SHARK, LOBSTER, MOLLUSK, AND TURTLE. THE PROPOSED FAO/BID PROJECT WILL FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISANAL FISHERIES AROUND THE GULF OF NICOYA. OTHER COOPERAIVES PROBABLY WILL ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISANAL FISHERIES IN OTHER SECTIONS OF THE PACIFIC COAST AND SATISFY THE INCREASED DEMAND. AN ARTISANAL FISHING COOPERATIVE WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND A MINIMUM OF PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION EQUIPMENT PROBABLY WOULD HELP INCREASE PRODUCTION OF MARINE PRODUCTS ON THE CARIBBEAN COAST WHERE DEMAND ALREADY EXCEEDS SUPPLY. FURTHER POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT IS SEEN IN THE AREA OF MARICULTURE, AS INDICATED BY EXPERIMENTS IN MUSSEL CULTURE.