Help Save the Hammer Heads of Cocos

[mjh]

This was taken from another site and I think it is a worthy cause. Email the Costa Rica Consulate listed below.

Every year, 1,250 visitors come to scuba dive Cocos Island, off Costa Rica, attracted by its extraordinary biodiversity of this World Heritage Site.

Today, Cocos Island can no longer be considered a marine reserve. It is now a fishing base. What had been considered a sanctuary for threatened marine species is now just an extended community for fishermen to exploit.

We are confronting a crisis.

The laws that exist to protect this island's marine reserve have ceased being enforced by the Costa Rican government. Both Costa Rican poachers as well as foreign flag poachers are now decimating the area with commercial fishing equipment. Oil, diesel fuel, batteries and floating plastic bags full of garbage are being dumped into the bays. The Cocos Island Park Rangers, lacking a proper patrol boat, are ill-equipped to effectively battle this situation despite the $133 National Park fee that each of the thousands of divers who visit Cocos pay to the Costa Rican government. The Costa Rican government is allowing the destruction of this unique World Heritage Site.

Just imagine 20 poachers fishing in a small bay. That is exactly what has occurred every day of the month since October 2001 in Cocos' Chatham Bay, fundamental breeding grounds for pelagic species. ACTION is demanded of the responsible authorities NOW! In a few more months, it will be too late.

CONTACT:
Costa Rican Embassy
2114 S Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone
(202) 2342945
(202) 2342946
Fax
(202) 265-4795
consulate@costarica-embassy.org

 

[bruehlt]

Wow - can't believe there are not any replies to this. I definitely plan on this, especially after seeing the discovery channel special on cocos (maybe it was blue planet?) - they plainly stated that the Taiwanese fishing boats are coming over and destroying the marine life. What a damn shame.

 

[mjh]

bump

 

[mjh]

Too bad to see it buried here but I understand the reasoning. Well I did get a response…

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Heyn,

Thank you very much for your concern regarding the protection of the shark population at Cocos Island and the increase in the number of turists in the area. Indeed, Costa Rica is constantly trying to protect the island from predators and disturbances of our natural resources.

For that purpose, we have established the National System of Protected Areas of Costa Rica, to which the Marine Conservation Area of Cocos is part. As part or ghe programs created and implemented for the protected areas, the Ministry of Environment of Costa Rica created for the Cocos Island four specific programs: a Protection Program that cares for the fulfillment of the conservation of the natural resources laws, keeping a right balance of the ecosystems of the island inside the sea and land limits; it also cares for the security of national and foreign tourists that visit the island. The Administration Program that proposes the planning of all the labors of the park in a short and middle period; the Monitor and Investigation program propose to set the bases for the development of scientific investigation in the area and incentive it according to the park priorities; and finally, the Public Use Program, which objective is to make conscious in the groups dedicated to the fishing activity, about the importance to preserve endanger populations of sea organisms of commerce use.

We know it is hard for a country with limited resources to make all these programs work, but we work with Mar Viva Foundation, and with the other entities to ensure protection to our resources.

I will convey your concerns to our authorities, and please don't hesitate to search for ways to help to promote these conservation and protections efforts, because we believe everybody can help.

Thank you,

Ana Villalobos
Minister Counselor
Embassy of Costa Rica
Washington, DC

 

[rpodos]

I just sent an email too.

 

[rpodos]

Nice reply:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Podos,

It is always a great moment when we find people that understand and support our efforts in conservation of our wildlife protected areas. Thank you for your e-mail, and we wish the best for you when you visit Costa Rica.

Ana Villalobos
Minister Counselor
Embassy of Costa Rica
Washington, DC

 

[jbilicska]

I just sent an e-mail too. Let us know if there's anything else we can do. Thanks for the info.
Joe B

 

[mjh]

Every little bit helps.