Welcome to ‘A rising tide’
Every morning in Costa Rica, sport and tourism fishing enterprises take to the water.
It is an economic activity that sustains thousands of families in Costa Rica every year, but that has often been portrayed in simplistic terms—large, foreign enterprises, say, or luxury yachts. But in reality, there are almost as many types of fishing in Costa Rica as there are species of fish in these waters. (Well, perhaps not quite so many as that.)
There are grassroots organizations, women-led enterprises, nonprofit initiatives, and more, seeking the intersection of sustainable economic growth and conservation. Many are playing a crucial role in marine governance and conservation.
As journalists, we see parallels with our own field. Especially in contexts of increasing polarization and distrust, it’s common to hear criticisms of “the media” as if journalists were a single bloc dominated by traditional news organizations. In reality, a dazzling array of freelance journalists and micronewsrooms are playing a bigger and bigger role each day.
El Colectivo 506 is a media organization that came to be, in large part, because we wanted to help break down myths like these—especially where community-led initiatives are concerned. That’s why this edition is particularly special. It showcases stories from a sector much more diverse than it has been given credit for, and is doing so through a project that has made a special effort to train and support local media.
It’s said that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” and that’s the spirit behind this month’s edition. It unites a wide range of people who might not ordinarily work together in pursuing common goals. Here at El Colectivo 506 and in local media organizations across the country, you’ll see rural journalists join forces to tell and share the stories of a sector that is full of contrasts, nuance, and possibility.
We thank our sponsor, the Costa Rican Fishing Federation (FECOP), who hired us to tell the story of their Participatory Fishing Project, funded in term by the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica—and who then stepped up further to support our training and production grants for coastal journalists whose work will appear in this edition. It is not every organization that invests in local journalism and micronewsrooms with full respect for their editorial independence and integrity, and we are grateful to FECOP for doing just that.
Welcome to “A rising tide.”
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