TWO WEEKS WITHOUT SHARK FINNING IN COSTA RICA

(San José, Costa Rica - 29 November, 2007)

Since November 13, in compliance with a mandate by the Constitutional Court, the Puntarenas Port Authority, by order of the Director of Navigation and Security of the Ministry of Public Transportation, has not authorized the arrival of international flag longline vessels at private docks in Puntarenas (Resolution CPP-2007-379). The Port Authority’s position is in response to an accusation of disobedience to the Constitutional Court’s ruling of February 3, 2006, (Case: 2006-1109), which ordered the Port Authority, the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA) and Customs Office of the Ministry of Treasury), to immediately halt the landing of these vessels on private docks that are not provided with public infrastructure. The accusation was presented by PRETOMA, in January of 2007, after the authorities had disobeyed the Constitutional Court order for a year.

“We are very satisfied with this victory, given the importance of compliance with national laws,” said Jorge Ballestero, of Programa Restauración de Tortugas Marinas (PRETOMA). “The landing of shark fins and other fishery products at the private docks of Puntarenas by international flag longline vessels is an illegal activity, and one which clearly favors activities like shark finning, given that in the privacy of these docks it is impossible to protect the public interest,” explained Ballestero.

PRETOMA has identified the use of private docks by international flag longline vessels to be the greatest loop hole that facilitates shark finning in Costa Rica. In fact, Articles 211 and 212 of the Customs Law orders the obligatory use of public docks by international flag fishing fleets. In spite of these laws, Costa Rica has continued to receive these landings at private docks, uninterruptedly, since 1998.

Since the adoption of this policy by the Port Authority two weeks ago, three international flagged longline vessels have attempted, without success, to land their products. All three vessels, the Dragon 28, the Conchita 8, Yu Long 6, sail under the flag of Belize, and are currently docked at the private docks. This situation, however, could be only temporary, given that the Ministry of the Treasury has expressed its dissatisfaction to the Constitutional Court regarding the recent ruling, and has petitioned the accusation of disobedience to be dropped, with the intention of prolonging the illegal use of private docks to land shark fins and other shark products.

“The Ministry of the Treasury and the owners of the private docks are exerting enormous political pressure to allow the landings of these vessels, but fortunately, the Port Authority has stayed firm,” warned Randall Arauz, President of PRETOMA. “NOW is the moment for the Government of President Oscar Arias to show its commitment to the protection and conservation and sharks, and sign an Executive Decree to put an end to the illegal use of private docks once and for all,” said Arauz.

Saw your film yesterday. Incredible!

Just so you know, things appear to be moving around here… I was watching the Congress a few days ago and a couple of congresswomen were wearing “I saved a Shark” T-shirts and collecting signatures.

Another link about the campaign against finning:

http://www.navegalo.com/aleteo/index.htm

“Funny” thing, one of our worse tv channels, if not the worst, aired Jaws today… Typical stupid costarican journalism…

Anyway, thank you for your film!

welcome to Costa Rica and thanks for try to protect that we don’t want to do…

Best regards.

JJ.

PRETOMA has sent out a request asking the Costa Rican authorities to uphold their duties so that the private docks comply with the law.

http://www.tortugamarina.org/content/category/5/122/169/lang,en/

Rob, welcome to Costa Rica again!

Miguel

My name is Juan and I’m from Costa Rica. This weekend I went to the movie theater and saw the Sharkwater trailer, very impressive! Also, theaters here are full of Sharkwater posters saying “Equilibrium has been broken in Costa Rica”, and I can say there’s great expectation about this movie, especially because it tells us about a reality that is unknown to most Costa Ricans.

Right now, we’re doing all we can to stop shark finning by enforcing our laws and preventing ships from dropping shark cargo in private docks. This is the petition that we are signing from the PRETOMA group: http://www.tortugamarina.org/content/category/5/122/169/lang,en/

However, I was amazed to see that shark fin soups and other dishes are sold not only in Asian contries but also in Canada and the US. There are plenty of restaruants in cities such as Vancouver and San Francisco that are making big money out of this, check these websites:

http://www.divester.com/2007/01/03/amazon-selling-shark-fin-soup/
http://www.greenparty.ca/en/releases/10.08.2007
http://www.yapper.ca/gallery/van2004_dinner/img_7226
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/05/29/2003257104

As I said, CR it’s doing its best to stop shark finning, but I think it would really help if countries that consume shark fins ban those imports and prohibit restaurants from selling shark products.

The Sharkwater movie has helped raise an important movement against shark fishing in CR. I hope it also raises a movement against shark consumption in other countries.

Best regards,

Juan

~Nicole~
Maine, USA.