SHARK FINNING AT COCOS ISLAND

DESECRATION OF A WORLD JEWEL

See the Whale Shark above? It’s about 30-40 feet long, weighs 20,000-30,000 pounds, is peaceful and increasingly rare.

Know what it's worth? About $1,000 to a fisherman.

For 15 tons of meat? Nope. For its fins.

And what's the value of the meat?

Nothing. It’s considered trash.

After the fins are cut off, the animal is simply set adrift to sink to the bottom and, if the animal were definned alive, it drowns an agonizing death.

Millions of sharks, every species, every size, and every age are killed every year despite a near international ban on this practice.

Why? So people in China and Taiwan---and regrettably the United States---can have shark fin soup.

A few years ago, shark fins were so rare that a bowl of soup cost $100 or more; today, modern fishing methods have driven the price down to a couple of bucks despite the international ban. There are even “all-you-can-eat” shark fin buffets in the Orient now.

It’s shameful.

It's also a lucrative, sleezy business, too awful to imagine (but it's too important not to imagine it). And, a few years ago, the pirates discovered the bountiful waters around Costa Rica’s wonderful Cocos Island and have been plundering it night and day ever since.

Here's a short video taken in Costa Rica. WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC FOOTAGE.

Though the horrendous shark-finning goes on at Cocos Island and within the other waters of Costa Rica, two things need to be made perfectly clear.

First, these pirates are relentlessly attacking everywhere in the world. Recently, the U.S. seized a boat in Hawaii with 16 tons of shark fins----not sharks, just fins. Visit Shark Finning Defenders, click.

Second, Costa Ricans are mortified by the depredation. There have been large public protests.

This type of Costa Rica fishing is disgusting.

The Government Has Started to Respond

Not hype.

Hope. Based on evidence.

Unfortunately, powerful interests are involved and the fight goes on.

But, public awareness and outrage are at work as well, see a powerful newsletter about endangered sea turtles and shark finning abomination, click for Pretoma Newsletter.

1. In January 2008 a team of Yale and Columbia University researchers released the first world-wide comprehensive Environmental Performance Index.

149 countries were rated on their environmental performance using 25 different criteria.

Costa Rica was in the top five. Only Switzerland and three Scandinavian countries topped it.

An amazing accomplishment considering that their Gross Domestic Products are three times that of little Costa Rica.

In January 2010, Costa Rica jumped into the top 3 countries on the world's Environmental Performance Index, click

2. In the past 20 years, Costa Rica has set aside over a quarter of the country for parks and marine reserves.

3. In 2008, by executive order, it created one of the first sanctuaries for whales and dolphins in Latin America.

4. Costa Rica is the headquarters for the West Pacific Conservation Marine Corridor, which takes in the area of the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) (also under attack!), Cocos Island (Costa Rica), Coiba Island (Panama) and the Colombian islands Malpelo and Gorgona.

5. 149 countries have now banned shark finning and the world's media is beginning to report on this important topic. Click to watch CNN clip on shark finning.

6. In December 2008, Costa Rica banned all exports of sailfish in an effort to maintain sustainability.

7. In March 2009, Costa Rica, leading 10 other Central American countries, formally requested a United Nations workshop to address the barbaric and wasteful practice of shark finning. It is supported by members of the Shark coalition and the Humane Society International.

Cocos Island is Too Valuable to Lose

It's been nominated as one of the world's Seven Natural Wonders and is already one of the Costa Rica Seven Wonders, click.

It remains to be seen if this one-of-a-kind jewel can survive.

exp. 02/12

Shark Finning Needs to Stop

Spread the Word to Your Friends

<a href="http://www.costarica-discover-it.com/shark-finning.html">Costa Rica Vacations</a> Stop the barbaric practice of shark-finning.

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Changing the world. . .

One voice at a time.

Make Your Voice Heard Around the World

Sign a petition.

Join a campaign. Support or Volunteer at Pretoma

Add a voice. Send it 'round the world.

Ask others to add their voice. Click to go to Stopsharkfinning.net

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