FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Randall Arauz, President
TEL:  +(506) 241-5227
FAX:  +(506) 236-6017

One Year and still No Response from Customs
about Illegal Shark Fin Landings in Costa Rica

August 23, 2004 - San Jose, Costa Rica
On July 29 and August 7 of 2003, PRETOMA filed two official denouncements regarding illegal landings of shark fins at private docks in Costa Rica.  Now, more than a year later no results or status reports o­n investigations into the cases have been provided, and the illegal landings continue.

The denouncements were filed against Customs for allowing foreign vessels to land tens of tons of shark fins at unauthorized, unsupervised private docks where Taiwanese vessels evade paying the 15% import taxes o­n highly lucrative shark fins. 

In both denouncements PRETOMA urged the Customs Police to perform investigations into the illegal landings and why such activity is permitted.  After receiving the denouncements, Customs Police confirmed that investigations would be conducted.

"We are extremely concerned because the Costa Rican government is promoting shark finning by allowing international vessels to illegally land tons of shark fins in Costa Rica," says Randall Arauz, President of PRETOMA.

Because the docks are private, the owner of the dock can deny access to any government official, even the Director of Customs.

"In 2003 Costa Rica officially reported 533 tons of shark fins, but since all shark fins are landed at unauthorized, unsupervised private docks that number could easily be 3 times as high," says Jorge Ballestero, Vice President of PRETOMA.  "And the tax revenues lost could easily be in the millions of dollars."

"In spite of full knowledge of the situation, Customs has done nothing to stop the illegal landings for over a year," notes Arauz.