No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCocos Island nominated for Global Ocean Refuge distinction

Cocos Island nominated for Global Ocean Refuge distinction

Costa Rica’s Cocos Island is one of six finalists to be designated as a “Global Ocean Refuge” by the Marine Conservation Institute.

The organization nominates “protected areas that safeguard marine life and promote opportunities for sustainable tourism.” After the finalists are evaluated by a science council, select sites receive funding for further protection and sustainable tourism development.

“Cocos Island National Park guarantees Costa Ricans and the world the conservation of a natural sanctuary of marine and terrestrial species, which represents a key site for the development of science,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Minister of Environment and Energy. “The nomination of the National Park for this award represents another achievement at the country level in conservation, thanks to public-private efforts to preserve the environment and make sustainable use of our natural resources.”

The other nominees are: Aldabra Atoll Special Reserve; Arnavon Community Marine Park; Marine Protected Area Network around the Channel Islands; Reserva Marina de Galàpagos; and Area Marina Protetta di Torre Guaceto.

Marine Conservation Institute notes Cocos Island “is an important point of travel for migratory sharks in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The island is a globally important reservoir of biodiversity, and is visited by blue whales, sperm whales and bottlenose dolphins.”

A United States-based nonprofit, Marine Conservation Institute was founded in 1996 and focuses on “bridging the gap between scientists who understand marine ecosystems and policy makers who determine their fate.”

Cocos Island is located 532 km from Cabo Blanco, Puntarenas.  It was designated as a UNESCO Natural Heritage for Humanity Site in 1997 after lobbying from the Costa Rican government and the nonprofit Friends of Cocos Island (FAICO).

 

Popular Articles

Costa Rica Clausura Update: Saprissa Tops, Santa Ana in Crisis

There are only four rounds to go in the Clausura regular season, and things are heating up at both the top and bottom of...

Costa Rica Faces Tourism Slump Despite High Season

Costa Rica has recorded seven consecutive months of declining international tourist arrivals, a troubling trend that began in September 2024 and persisted through March...

Costa Rica Grants Humanitarian Status to U.S. Deported Migrants

Approximately 200 migrants deported from the United States to Costa Rica’s Southern Zone have been granted a special humanitarian status, offering them temporary legal...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles