On March 3rd, the Canadian photojournalist and biologist Nick Hawkins found over 80 blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) heads and dead bodies off western Cabuya Island, in direction of Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve.  The finding happened when Hawkins was exploring the area while photographing for a conservation project on the Nicoya Peninsula.

The majority of the sharks were small in size, which could indicate that this site is an important breeding area for this species, where juveniles feed before they move to the high seas.

Nick Hawkins quotes, “I spent over 30 minutes collecting heads and bodies for a photo, I collected around 80 but there were still many more scattered about a larger area. All of the sharks were juveniles and some were fully intact, killed needlessly and then discarded.”

“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.  There are almost 30 commercial shark species in the Pacific of Costa Rica and these are caught for the high value of their fins but also for national meat consumption, especially the young individuals that haven’t reproduce yet, as in this case” states Randall Arauz of Pretoma.  “One more time, this encounter shows the great fishing pressures on sharks and the urgent need to expand and create marine protected areas in coastal zones where the shark feed during juvenile stages” concluded Arauz.

For more information:

Nick Hawkins - nickjameshawkins@gmail.com - http://www.njhawkins.com/

Pretoma, info@pretoma.org, (506) 22415227

(March 11, 2013 – Bangkok, Thailand)

In a very close vote, the plenary of CITES approved by a 2/3 majority the inclusion of hammerhead sharks in Appendix II.  The proposal was submitted by Costa Rica, Honduras and Brazil, and has obtained the support of Central America, most of the South American countries, the European Union, the United States, and blocks of African nations.

Due to the lack of a technical justification, some countries claimed the measure could not be implemented, or that it could affect artisanal fisheries of developing nations.  However, Brazil expressed that it would provide technical and financial training for implementation.  Furthermore, a CITES Appendix II listing will only affect international trade, while artisanal fishers catch juveniles for domestic consumption.

“This measure will finally control the irrational and unsustainable catch of hammerhead sharks to meet the demand of shark fins in international markets,” said Randall Arauz, marine species advisor to the Costa Rican delegation.  “Far from being detrimental to artisanal fisheries, the measure will be beneficial to them, as it will guarantee the protection of adults, allowing them to reproduce into perpetuity.

“The hammerhead shark is of extreme importance to Costa Rica, not only due to its importance in domestic fisheries, but also due to its importance for the dive industry, where their observation generates yearly revenues  of millions of US$,” expressed José Joaquín Calvo, Chief of the Costa Rican delegation.  “We will continue with these regional and global processes, to guarantee the sustainable use of hammerhead sharks and other highly migratory species for the future generations.”

Votes in favor:  91

Votes against: 39

Abstensions:  8

NOTE:  Stil existe the possibility that China or Japan will overturn the vote when the convention returns to plenary.

(February 4, 2013)

Convened by the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (Incopesca) last January 30th in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, leaders of 12 artisinal fishing associations listened to the institutional proposal to impose minimum catch size limits for some commercial fish species that they extract. Even though the artisinal fishermen are convinced that these measures are necessary to warrant the sustainability of their fishery, they question its efficiency without a ban on shrimp trawl operations. (Read artisinal fishermen statement, spanish only).

Artisinal fishermen and Incopesca’s officers during last January 30 meeting

Incopesca’s sudden management proposal responds to the recent report of the General Controllership of the Republic’s Report (No. DFOE-EC-IF-14-2012) “Special INCOPESCA Audit Report Related to the fulfillment of its Functions Regarding Marine Resource Conservation,” which severely criticizes INCOPESCA for not establishing minimum catch size limits as a fisheries management measure.

“The Imposition of these measures without stopping the shrimp trawlers means the extinction of artisinal fishers, and along with them, a major part of the cultural heritage of coastal areas of Guanacaste would also dissapear”, complained Dehivis Jimenez Chaverry, artisinal fishers of Playas del Coco.

“If INCOPESCA is concerned over the sustainability of artisanal fisheries, it must ban destructive shrimp trawling immediately,” stated Randall Arauz, of the Costa Rican organization PRETOMA. “INCOPESCA’s proposal is a slap in the face to the public interest, and far from promoting the sustainability of fisheries, it promotes overfishing in favor of private interests, like always ,” denounced Arauz.

Adding to the request to immediately restrict shrimp trawl operations at least 6 maritime miles offshore, between Cabo Blanco to the South and the Nicaraguan border to the North, the artisinal fishers request a time frame for the total implementation of the measure. 

(January 29, 2013 – San José, Costa Rica)

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini)

Last Friday January 25, the Council of Ministers of the Central American Commission of Environment and Development (CCAD), which belongs to the Environment Department of the Central American Integration System (SICA), agreed to support the initiative to include hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) en Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The proposal was formally presented by Costa Rica, Honduras, and Brazil, and it will be discussed and voted during the next Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention, to be held next March in Bangkok, Thailand. Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the European Union have also supported the proposal.

According to the Council of Ministers of CCAD “populations of this marine species have dwindled due to overfishing, incidental catch, and shark finning, and also because the fins are highly prized for consumption in Asian markets, because of which it is necessary to take decisions and start the battle in favor of the conservation of all shark species.”

According to Randall Arauz, of the Costa Rican organization Pretoma, it is disturbing that some Central American countries have yet to define their position regarding hammerhead sharks at CITES. “The recommendation of the CCAD builds upon the opinion of the Panel of Experts of FAO (2010) and the plenary of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) during the most recent World Conservation Congress in Jeju, Korea, last September,” informed Arauz. “Sadly, some Central American countries have done nothing but come up with one excuse after another to deny hammerheads the immediate protection they need and deserve, from international trade, thus solely benefitting the shark fin industry.”

Las comunidades locales y los Guardacostas de Golfitodenuncian alta mortalidad de tortugas marinas durante los últimos días, las cuales se cuentan por centenares, en las playas de Pavones y Punta Banco. Además, la Autoridad de Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá (ARAP) reporta tortugas muertas en el Golfo de Chiriquí.

Tortuga marina anzuelada en la Playa de Punta Banco.
19 de enero del 2013 (Clyde Aspinall)

Según Alanna Aspinall Nuñez (ced. 111610772) y su familia, vecinos de Punta Banco, durante los últimos diez días se han podido observar decenas de barcos palangreros dentro del Golfo Dulce y en las inmediaciones. Jason Borner (ced. 112400138418) y su esposa Tanya Harrison, también vecinos de la zona, confirman estos acontecimientos e inclusive pudieron fotografiar un total de 13 tortugas muertas en apenas 20 minutos. Según los testimonios de estos vecinos, muchas son tortugas verdes (Chelonia mydas), que utilizan el área del golfo dulce para alimentarse y aparearse. Muchas de estas tortugas han aparecido con anzuelos en sus mandíbulas y en sus aletas, indicio claro de que la interacción con la pesca ha sido la causa de la muerte, y no a causa de una bacteria como se ha dado ha entender recientemente a la opinión pública.

“Durante el día 22 de enero, enviamos una embarcación con científicos a la zona, recogieron 5 cuerpos frescos todos de tortugas verdes y dos tortugas vivas, al menos una anzuelada. Las necropsias realizadas no han mostrado infecciones en los órganos, u otros indicios que relacionen la muerte con bacterias.” indicó Didhier Chacón, biólogo de la Asociación Widecast. “La presencia de peces comiendo los cuerpos en descomposición también comprueba la ausencia de toxinas en el agua como las presentes en la Marea Roja. Sin duda alguna las pruebas no descartan la pesca incidental como razón primaria de la muerte.” argumentó Chacón.

Barcos palangreros frente a Punta Banco.
19 de enero del 2013 (Clyde Aspinall)

“El pez dorado es una especie comercialmente muy importante para la pesquería costarricense, siendo durante estos meses la temporada cuando se captura en su mayor volumen”, declaró Randall Arauz, biólogo de la Asociación Pretoma, “pero, un hábitat tan importante para las tortugas como la zona del Golfo Dulce y Punta Burica debería estar sujeto a más planes de manejo pesquero más estrictos para evitar el alto índice de mortalidad debido a la interacción con las pesquerías como el palangre”, sentenció Arauz.

Luis Diego Marín, coordinador de Preserve Planet indicó; “nuevamente queda en evidencia el gravísimo daño ambiental que sufren nuestros mares por culpa de pescadores inconscientes.  En esta ocasión, la ciudadanía lo puede corroborar al ver esa enorme cantidad de cadáveres de tortugas en la playa”.

Para más información:

Didhier Chacón, Asociación Widecast.

Tel: 2236-0947 / Email: dchacón@widecast.org

Randall Arauz, Asociación Pretoma

Tel: 2241-5227 / rarauz@pretoma.org

Luís Diego Marín, Preserve Plante

Tel: 8821-7996 / luisdiego@preserveplanet.org

Magistrados rechazan coadyuvancia de representantes del sector camaronero de arrastre

Ayer 13 de noviembre la Sala Constitucional aceptó oficialmente el escrito presentado por la Diputada Doña Mª Eugenia Venegas en su condición de Diputada de la Asamblea Legislativa, así como los presentados por 15 organizaciones de pescadores artesanales del Pacífico de Costa Rica, que solicitan ser coadyuvantes de la Acción de Inconstitucionalidad, que se tramita bajo el expediente (12-010016-0007-CO) y que pide prohibir de manera inmediata la pesca de camarón por arrastre.

Las coadyuvancias de la diputada y los pescadores artesanales se basan en su interés legítimo para que se resuelva la acción, debido a que la pesca camaronera de arrastre atenta contra la sostenibilidad de los recursos marinos,  así como pescar deslealmente las poblaciones de peces de los que dependen los pescadores artesanales.

A su vez, en la misma resolución, la Sala rechaza la coadyuvancia presentada por representantes del sector semi-industrial camaronero de arrastre, la cual apoyaba la defensa del Incopesca, entidad que junto a Setena enfrenta dicha acción de inconstitucionalidad.

(October 9, 2012 – San Jose Costa Rica)

Yesterday, the Association of Fishermen of Puerto Coyote (Aspepuco) and the Association of Fishermen of Bejuco (Asobejuco), both domiciled in Nandayure, Costa Rica, presented before the Constitutional Chamber a third party action for the unconstitutionality law suit that aims to declare the shrimp trawl fishery unconstitutional.

On 6 September 2012, the Constitutional Court accepted a constitutional law suit submitted by Frente por Nuestros Mares, an amalgam of national marine conservation organizations.

Aspepuco y Asobejuco are going through the process to obtain a sustainable fisheries certification form the Marine Steawardship Council

Shrimp trawling is widely acknowledged as one of the most predatory and destructive fishing practices, consisting of a net that sweeps the ocean floor, devastating everything in its path. Besides discarding from 6,000 to 9,000 metric tons of bycatch per year, the national fleet captures more than 7,500 sea turtles per year (considering that currently half of the fleet does not even operate). Moreover, due to shrimp overfishing, the trawl fleet now directs its effort toward snappers, in socioeconomic detriment of snapper fishermen who do use sustainable fishing methods.

“We have promoted sustainable fisheries in the two National Wildlife Refugesof the area, Camaronal and Caletas – Ario, in which shrimp trawling is prohibited” assured the artisanal fishermen of Asobejuco.” Unfortunately, shrimp trawlers catch many small snappers that haven’t had a chance to reproduce yet, compromising the resource, in an irresponsible and unsustainable practice,” argued the fishermen.

“They do not use turtle saving devices, nor do they respect the legal limitation to operate in Wildlife Refuges,” denounced the fishermen of Aspepuco. “The impact is huge in neighboring communities, who live of ecotourism and sustainable fisheries,” they said.

The Asobejuco and Aspepuco third party actions join those presented by Congresswoman Maria Eugenia Venegas (PAC) (link to her letter) and the ones presented by 180 fishermen and 13 fishing organizations of Puntarenas and Golfito, who also feel affected by the activities of the shrimp trawl industry:

• Asociación de Pescadores Artesanales de Puerto Pilón, Pavones (Asosinpap)

• Asociación de Pescadores y Piangüeros del Golfo Dulce
• Asociación de Pescadores de Pequeña Escala y Turística de Zancudo.
• Asociación de Pescadores Para el Desarrollo Sostenible de Puntarenas
• Asociación de Pescadores Artesanales Conservacionistas de la Isla Puntarenitas de Golfito
• Sindicato Industrial de Pescadores Artesanales, Criadores Acuícolas y Anexos de Puntarenas (SIPACAAP)
• Asociación Comité Local de Pescadores de Corozal de Jicaral de Puntarenas
• Asociación Pesquera Costera del Pacífico – Costa de Pájaros
• Asociación de Pescadores Pangueros Artesanales de Puntarenas (Asopaappu)
• Asociación Cámara de Pescadores Artesanales de Puntarenas
• Sindicato de la Unión de Pescadores Artesanales de Puntarenas
• Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Pesquera (SITRAIPA).
• Asociación de Pescadores de San Juanillo

Para Más información:

Miguel Gómez, Pretoma, 2241 5227

Randall Arauz, 8344 3711

Last October 5, Costa Rica, together with Brazil and Honduras, met the deadline to submit a proposal for the inclusion of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico and the European Union cosponsored the proposal. The final decision will be taken during the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP) of CITES in Thailand, March of 2013. 

Hammerhead sharks are mainly sought for their large fins, of high value in the international shark fin trade

Appendix II of CITES includes all species whose commerce must be submitted to strict regulations, guaranteeing that the level of removal of individuals from their natural habitat and the international commerce generated is not detrimental to its survival or ecosystem function. According to this requirement, Sates must certify that the commerce of species in Appendix II is sustainable, through a system of exporting licenses granted by the Scientific Authority (SA) of CITES, that guarantees the sustainability of the extraction. If necessary, the SA must communicate with the Executive Authority for the execution of measures that limit exports of the species in question.

Last June, Costa Rica succeeded in including hammerhead sharks in Appendix III of CITES, which allows for the improved collection of information regarding the international commerce of this species, as well as to request the support of neighboring nations that share the population, but is doesn’t protect from unsustainable fishing practices, such as shark finning. Thus, the reason why Costa Rica now seeks its inclusion en Appendix II of CITES.

“Hammerhead sharks have turned into a symbol of national marine conservation, because of which I congratulate the Government of Costa Rica for its leadership and commitment to protect this emblematic species,” expressed Randall Arauz, of the Costa Rican organization Pretoma. “Fortunately, the sponsoring of the proposal by Latin American nations such as Brazil, Honduras, Colombia, and Ecuador, as well as the Economic Union, strengthens the proposal and its chances of winning the vote during the next COP meeting of CITES in Thailand,” said Arauz with enthusiasm.

Park Rangers working at Cocos Island National Park in Costa Rican waters discovered an endangered green sea turtle hooked by a longline vessel fishing illegally inside the 12-nautical mile no-fishing marine protected area. Fortunately, the illegal fishing operation was discovered before the turtle drowned, and it was released alive, but injured.

Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) being release from a circle hook. This hook is used by fishermen illegal fishing in Cocos Island.

Cocos Island is one of the world’s most famous dive sites, known for its schools of hundreds of hammerhead and other sharks. Randal Arauz of PRETOMA and Todd Steiner, Executive Director of SeaTurtles.org, have jointly been studying both hammerheads and sea turtles within the national park boundaries  in order to protect and prevent the extinction of these two endangered species.

“When fishers are willing to risk losing many thousands of dollars of gear, it confirms this is not an isolated incident,” said Steiner, who noted rangers have accumulated a mountain of confiscated gear on the island.

“In addition to our endangered species research, our organizations are working with the [Environment] Ministry to improve domestic and foreign marine conservation policy, and protect this Costa Rican marine gem, which is now designated as a United Nations World Heritage Site,” said Arauz.

The hooked turtle, named “Swift,” was one of 17 tagged with a satellite transmitter to understand the movements of the species to determine if the marine protected area is large enough to keep the turtle safe during its long residency at Cocos Island. The satellite tag sends daily signals into space, which are captured and sent to researchers computers. The research is also trying to document and eventually protect its long-range migrations, with an eye toward creating “protected swimways” between feeding and nesting areas.

Illegal fishermen, many of them shark finners, slink around the borders of the marine protected area, setting tens of thousands of baited hooks inside the reserve, and though park rangers do their best, they don’t have the resources or proper equipment to keep the reserve safe.

Shark fin set seized by Costa Rican Coastguard from national longline fishing vessel Yamauke (PG 8969) last June 26, 2012.

“We thank the Costa Rican National Park Service and the Ministry of the Environment for their work to thwart illegal fishing in the marine protected area, and to report this important data to us on the fate of Swift, the turtle,” said Randall Arauz, biologist and President of Pretoma.

“Pirate fishermen are wreaking havoc on sea turtles and sharks of the Pacific, even at this remote ‘protected’ site, more than 350 miles from the mainland, destroying one the most incredible hotspots of marine biodiversity in the Pacific,” said Todd Steiner, biologist and executive director or Turtle Island Restoration Network.

Sharks are caught for their fins, which are shipped to Asia to make ‘shark fin soup’ and tuna and mahi-mahi are caught and often exported to the US and Europe.

For more information:

Randall Arauz, Pretoma (Costa Rica) (506) 2241-5227, rarauz@pretoma.org; www.pretoma.org

Todd Stiener, SeaTurtles.org, (US) (415) 663-8590, tsteiner@tirn.net, www.seaturtles.org

IUCN Supports inclusion of hammerhead sharks in Appendix II of CITES

(September 16, 2012 – Jeju, Korea)

During the Members Assembly of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), held in Jeju, Korea, from September 6 -15, a motion was approved that calls on all nations to support the inclusion of hammerhead sharks in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade on Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), through which stricter controls on international trade are sought, where huge demand exists for its fins for shark fin soup.  This demand is responsible for the drastic reduction of populations of hammerhead sharks, which has resulted in its classification as an Endangered Species on the IUCN Red List.

http://www.pretoma.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/M-37-Final-English.pdf

“Costa Rica is committed to the conservation of this emblematic marine species, and we are carrying out all efforts possible to guarantee effective protection from the negative effect generated by the overfishing of this species to supply the demand by international shark fin markets,” expressed Guido Chaves, of the Ministry of Environment of Costa Rica, a co-sponsor of the motion.

According to Randall Arauz, of Pretoma, a Costa Rican organization that co-sponsored the motion, certain countries that opposed the motion tried to water it down to a point where the language would have been pointless.  “Fortunately, the Members Assembly massively supported the motion, showing that the future of hammerhead sharks is a global concern,” pointed out Arauz.

“Now comes the hard part, obtaining an Appendix II listing for hammerhead sharks in CITES, as we know that there will be opposition from major fishing nations,” warned Alejandra Pacheco of Marviva Foundation, a regional Latin American organization that also co-sponsored the motion.  “The support of the Members Assembly is an important recognition of our efforts, and we trust that it will help achieve the desired restriction on the international trade of hammerhead shark fins in the near future,” said Pacheco with optimism.

The next Conference of the Parties of CITES will be held from March 3-14, in Bangkok, Thailand.

NOTE:

Results of the Members Assembly Vote:

Governments:  YES, 93; NO, 8; ABST, 29.

NGOs:  YES, 434; NO, 2; ABST, 14.