Despite Costa Rica's lack of support for protecting the silky shark or bigeye thresher, the two shark species will receive increased protection in international waters under CITES.
Ocean conservation group MarViva filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court onThursday, alleging that the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute illegally renewed three shrimp trawling licenses following a court order not to do so. Incopesca denies the allegations.
Costa Rica will begin slowly phasing out shrimp trawling Tuesday with the first permanent expiration of a trawling license. The Capitán Bonilla will become the first vessel forced to discontinue the practice following an August court ruling that declared shrimp trawling unconstitutional.
