Cocos patrol boat
Hammerheads fished out
Cocos Island is a nature reserve 300 miles off the cost of Costa Rica. Over the years, The Parks Department Rangers living on the island have witnessed countless occasions in which drift net fishing boats from other countries swing close by to the island, only to disappear again a short time after; their haul? Hundreds of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae).
Such incidents continue to increase in frequency, ignoring the fishing restrictions and threatening the fragile ecosystem; there is now a very real possibility that the entire population of hammerheads could soon be eradicated completely from the Cocos Island nature reserve.
Such incidents continue to increase in frequency, ignoring the fishing restrictions and threatening the fragile ecosystem; there is now a very real possibility that the entire population of hammerheads could soon be eradicated completely from the Cocos Island nature reserve.
SOSF funded patrol boat
SOSF patrol boat
Previous to SOSF's donation of a patrol boat, the Park Rangers were in a situation where they continued to witness such illegal fishing activities from the shore, but were agonisingly unable to take action to prevent them. The arrival of the small, fast patrol boat to monitor the area has therefore allowed the enforcement of the no fishing exclusion zone, and continues to help preserve the surrounding sharks and marine fauna.
That said, the situation continues to remain delicately balanced, with illegal fishing boats continuously moving from area to area; absolute viginlance & a willingness to enforce existing legislation are both key to protecting this unique area of biodiversity.
That said, the situation continues to remain delicately balanced, with illegal fishing boats continuously moving from area to area; absolute viginlance & a willingness to enforce existing legislation are both key to protecting this unique area of biodiversity.