Costa Rica used to be known for protecting our oceans — advocating for shark conservation, saving endangered sea turtles and reining in destructive industrial fishing fleets.
But now the tide has turned. In September 2015, to the shock of the world, Costa Rica announced it would:
- No longer promote the conservation of sharks on the international level;
- Weaken fishing regulations;
- Seek to reverse a ban on shrimp trawling;
- Convince companies to resume the practice of transporting shark fins.
With Costa Rica on this anti-conservation path, we fear that it's only a matter of time until we see drowned sea turtles on our beaches, shark populations plummeting, and industrial fishing laying waste to our seas.
By raising our voices together, we'll be demonstrating to Costa Rican officials that the whole world is watching and it cannot put commerce ahead of conservation.
Sign the petition today and urge Costa Rica to once again assume its leadership role by putting science and conservation before commerce to protect sea turtles and sharks. Dear President Solís,
We believe the legacy of Costa Rica is to be a green visionary. We urge you to stand strong and put science before commerce and to once again be the international leader in protecting sharks, sea turtles and other marines species.
We urge you to:
- Return to position of international leadership for protecting sharks through the CMS, IUCN, and CITES;
- Not modify the Decree that regulates the operation of the Costa Rican CITES Scientific Committee and allows it to maintain its technical and political independence;
- Immediately implement current mandatory catch size limits and commit to make them more shark-friendly.
- Defend the Constitutional Court’s ban on shrimp trawling with a complete phase out by 2019.
- Convince more companies to halt the international transportation of shark fins.
[Your Comment]
Thank you,
[Your Name]
