Stop the Killing of Endangered Sharks in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is home to dozens of shark species, many of which are in serious danger of being overfished to extinction.

Last year, former President Carlos Alvarado signed a decree that gutted vital protections, leaving endangered sharks vulnerable to extinction. The former President removed the ability of the Ministry of Environment to protect sharks and shifted management responsibilities to the Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA). This agency lacks the capacity to effectively monitor population trends and stands to benefit from their commercialization.

Costa Rica’s government is authorizing the overexploitation of sharks as commercial species · Shawn Heinrichs

Dozens of longline fishing vessels primarily target sharks in Costa Rica · Shawn Heinrichs

The Costa Rican government has essentially legalized the overfishing of sharks—even those species officially protected by international agreements.

One of the most at-risk species is the critically endangered hammerhead shark, a national symbol of Costa Rica’s marine conservation efforts. Scientific research has shown that hammerheads could become extinct within the next 20 years if no action is taken.

As top predators, sharks provide stability to marine ecosystems · Andy Mann

Nearly half of the 40+ shark species in Costa Rica are in serious danger of extinction · Andy Mann

Despite its image as a leader in ocean conservation, Costa Rica is failing to protect endangered sharks · Andy Mann

Add your name below to call on the Costa Rican government to prohibit the capture and trade of sharks threatened with extinction.

Supporters

Renee H

this isnt right needs to stop

2 years ago

Joan B

Save the sharks. If they die , we die

2 years ago

Suzanne F

i care

2 years ago

Kevin I

we need to protect those that can’t protect themselves.

3 years ago

Marion V

without sharks the balance in our ocean will be disturbed. without healthy marine life our ocean will be threatened and so will our resources!

3 years ago

Werner K

Und mit was treibt ihr Handel wenn der Hai ausstirbt ? Dann verkauft ihr eure Kinder.

3 years ago

Catalina B

I care

3 years ago

James P

i want to protect the endangered speci

3 years ago

Joy S

sharks are good. baby shark do do do do do do no kill baby shark pls stop pls stop pls stop.

3 years ago

charlie p

i want go have grandchildren in this world know that the world isnt evil

3 years ago

Susan W

sharks are very important in the seas and oceans!

3 years ago

Sheila R

without the sharks we all die

3 years ago

Julie K

we as a people of this planet have to stop eliminating species now. They are not ours to do with as we please. These sharks are in danger of becoming…

3 years ago

Andrea T

sharks are a vital part of marine life ,being a top predator. They are endangered world wide due to over fishing, by catch and net entanglement aswel…

3 years ago

Lori R

they have as much right to live as anyone. They are important to a balanced ecosystem.

3 years ago

Jean-François B

Sharks my brothers

3 years ago

Alison V

we must!!

3 years ago

April A

I care about Earth living a longer, and its Earthlings. Marine life is vital to keeping our ecosystems balanced and healthy.

3 years ago

Juliet W

sharks are needed for humans to live, if there are no sharks there is no ocean snd if there is no ocean there is no world to live on

3 years ago

Will h

The Hammerhead is an awesome creature.

3 years ago

PhaatLadyStephens S

killing without ness3sity goes against the Laws of nature. us humans need to get that.

3 years ago

abigail m

ecosystem reservation and population

3 years ago

Jorge B

I'm from latin america and i know that there lies a lot of wildlife species and vegetation and i think sharks should be protected, not hunted

3 years ago

Pítia F

Costa Rica has such an amazing ecosystem and every organism is an important part.

3 years ago

Nina P

we dont NEED to kill the sharks

3 years ago

Stop the Killing of Endangered Sharks in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is home to dozens of shark species, many of which are in serious danger of being overfished to extinction.

Add your name below to call on the Costa Rican government to prohibit the capture and trade of sharks threatened with extinction.

Supporters

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