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
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