CONTACT: Randall Arauz, President TEL: +(506) 241-5227 FAX: +(506) 236-6017
Costa Rican Ombudsman Confronts Key to Shark Finning Issue
August 20, 2004 - San Jose, Costa Rica Accompanied by various
organizations, biologists and conservationists, the Costa Rican
Defender of the Citizens, or Ombudsman, decided to personally look into
the shark finning issue, and decided to visit the private docks of
Puntarenas, Costa Rica's largest Pacific port. What he found, took him
straight to the heart of the shark finning issue, as private dock
owners denied him access at three of the four docks visited.
Hundreds
of foreign shark fishing vessels land hundreds of tons of shark fins at
the privately owned docks in Puntarenas. Due to the private nature of
these docks, owners have the right to protect their privacy and deny
access to anyone, even government officials.
"Under these
circumstances, it is impossible to protect the public interest,"
explained Randall Arauz, President of PRETOMA "That is precisely why
Costa Rica's Customs Law, Article 212, mandates that only public
docks, or duly authorized private docks, can be used for the landing of
fishery products from international vessels. Yet currently not one
single private dock has obtained the necessary authorization from
Customs."
"Sadly, Customs has decided to ignore its own law,"
says Jorge Ballestero of PRETOMA. "Foreign vessels are allowed to land
shark products illegally at the private docks, and by doing so, shark
finning is facilitated."
"Shark finning is a wasteful,
unsustainable practice, but that's what these foreign vessels are here
for," states Arauz. "Shark fins are by far the most profitable product
they can land, US$60-100 per kilo, and these vessels are landing tens
of tons of fins at a time."
Allowing foreign vessels to land at
private docks is just as illegal as allowing someone to set up an
international airport on his private ranch where the ranch owner would
be able to deny a government official access to inspecting the cargo of
the plane.
"The solution to this problem is simple; abide by
Costa Rican law," says Noah Anderson, of PRETOMA. "When it comes to
shark finning, the problem is the private docks, and until the illegal
activity there is stopped, the world will continue to view Costa Rica
as a country that says it supports conservation, but whose actions
promote shark finning."
PRETOMA
is a Costa Rican non-profit, non-governmental, marine conservation
organization that works to promote responsible fisheries and protect
sea turtles, sharks and marine biodiversity. Contact
.
