Environment and Fishery Laws prohibit trade of these critically endangered species
(San José, Costa Rica – February 10, 2025). Costa Rica authorized the traffic of 12.6 tons of hammerhead shark fins from Nicaragua for later reexport, from September 26, 2023 to September 13, 2024. According to Technical Notes 7656444, 7723238, 7729463, 7801815, 7891301, 7934406, 7989485, issued by the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA for its Spanish acronym), the hammerhead shark fins specific Tariff Code 305710000010 was used to authorize seven reexports from Nicaragua, worth an accumulated value of US$164,268.40. Detail of Technical Notes.
The issuance of these Technical Notes constitutes a violation of the Wildlife Conservation Law 7317, compliance with which was ordered to both the Ministry of the Environment (MINAE for its Spanish Acronym) and INCOPESCA by the First Hall of Appeals of the Supreme Court of Justice since June 21, 2023. According to the Court, hammerhead sharks are wildlife and being on the National System of Protected Area’s (SINAC for its Spanish acronym) List of Coastal Marine Species of Endangered or Threatened Wildlife (R-SINAC-CONAC-008-2021, La Gaceta No. 93, 5/17/2021), their trade is expressly prohibited because of their public interest status. Furthermore, Costa Rica’s Fisheries Law (article 140) also prohibits the trade in endangered marine species that are protected by conventions that the country has signed and ratified.
The hammerhead shark is a vital species for the balance of marine ecosystems and is classified as a “critically endangered” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The trafficking of 12 tons of hammerhead shark fins implies the sacrifice of about 15,000 sharks. Their trade not only represents a violation of Costa Rica’s laws, but also a blow to global conservation efforts.
“The authorities are mocking the Costa Rican People and the international community alike,” denounced Randall Arauz, of Marine Watch International. “The Ministers of Environment (MINAE) and Fisheries (INCOPESCA) publicly boast of their Decree 43900 of January 2023 that prohibits the fishing and trade of hammerhead sharks, but the reality is that Costa Rica authorizes the traffic of critically endangered species to the detriment of the public interest to favor the disastrous trade in shark fins, which has led this species to the brink of extinction.”
“It is crucial that the authorities take immediate measures to ensure the legality of fishing and the trade of threatened shark species that are protected by conventions that the country has committed to honor”, said Daniel Arauz, of the Rescue Center for Threatened Marine Species of Costa Rica (CREMA-Costa Rica). “Costa Rica, recognized globally for its advances in sustainability and conservation, may see its reputation tarnished if it does not proceed to comply with its own environment and fisheries laws,” he warned.
Randall Arauz
International Policy Director
Marine Watch International
[email protected] | (506) 8708-8253 (Costa Rica)
Daniel Arauz
Executive Director
Centro Rescate de Especies Marinas Amenazadas (CREMA)
[email protected] | (506) 8328-1473 (Costa Rica).
