Taiwan donates $25 million bridge to Costa Rica, but behind the scenes Taiwanese fishing vessels are illegally landing tons of shark fins at Costa Rican ports.

On July 25 2003, the inauguration ceremony was held for a new 780m bridge across the Tempisque River, in Costa Rica.  The ceremony was held at the bridge site.  The bridge is called the "Friendship with Taiwan Bridge" and was built at a cost of US$25 million, all donated by the Taiwanese government.  In attendance at the inauguration ceremony were, the ambassador of Taiwan, President Dr. Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica, dignitaries from both countries, 500 Costa Rican citizens, and Costa Rican NGOs such as APREFLOFAS, YISKI, Leatherback Trust and PRETOMA. 

"We attended today to draw attention to a less publicized relationship between Taiwan and Costa Rica, that of Taiwanese fishing vessels illegally unloading tons of shark fins at Costa Rican ports," said Randall Arauz, director of PRETOMA whose members were carrying banners that read, "No more shark finning," and, "Friendship yes, shark finning no."

For two years PRETOMA has been criticizing both Taiwanese fishing vessels and the Costa Rican government because Taiwanese vessels violate the Costa Rican ban on shark finning and the landing of shark fins alone at Costa Rican ports, and the Costa Rican government does nothing to stop it.

"What is disturbing is that our government knows what the Taiwanese vessels are doing, yet they do not address the issue, rather they keep the issue from the public," states Allan Bolaños, of PRETOMA.  "President Pacheco makes a huge to-do about the bridge, but a petition with 10,000 signatures demanding an end to uncontrolled landing of shark fins has not elicited a single public comment from the president," he added.

The bridge cost US$25 million.  Yet PRETOMA estimates that Costa Rica has lost more than that amount from tax evasion during the last two years, because the Taiwanese land the contraband shark fins clandestinely, bypassing customs officials.

Last month four Costa Rican Coast Guard officers officially reported to the Costa Rican Fishery Management Agency, INCOPESCA, that a vessel flying a Panamanian flag of convenience yet crewed by Taiwanese and Chinese fishermen secretly landed 30 tons of shark fins.

"Ask anyone involved with the fishing industry in Puntarenas about Taiwanese vessels illegally landing shark fins and they will tell you that it happens on a weekly basis, which is a contravention against regulations that seek the rational use and sustainable management of our fishery resources," said Jorge Ballestero of PRETOMA, during an interview national TV news reporters.

"INCOPESCA, Customs, and President Pacheco do nothing to stop the illegal landing of fins, and what's worse, they show no apparent interest in solving the problem," said Irene Bozas of PRETOMA.  "They duck the issue at every chance."

Only the Costa Rican Coast Guard has officially denounced, on three separate recent occasions, the illegal landing of shark fins by foreign vessels.  Yet the denouncements have resulted in no action on the part of INCOPESCA.

"We, along with all Costa Ricans are appreciative of the bridge, appreciative of the generosity and gestures of the Taiwanese government, but we have to demand that our government, through INCOPESCA or the President, if necessary, force Taiwanese fishermen to follow our fishery and port regulations", said Arauz.  "If not, landing of products by these vessels must be stopped.  Costa Rica has farsighted, exemplary regulations against shark finning and the landing of shark fins.  But the regulations are not worth the paper they were written on if our government fails to enforce them."

Said Isabel Naranjo of PRETOMA, "Today's festivities were great.  It was sunny and warm.  There was dancing and a good turnout.  Both governments expressed appreciation for one another and for the friendship between countries.  We approve of all that.  But we wholehearted agree with the many people at the ceremony who were saying, "FRIENDSHIP YES,  SHARK  FINNING  NO."