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.