Article Summary:

Underwater Times reports that the Costa Rican authorities have named the fishermen that are primarily responsible for illegal fishing in the Cocos Islands marine protected area. The Minister of the Environment, Rene Castro, has presented the first list of identified vessels that have illegally entering the Cocos Island between January 2010 - September 2011 to Incopesca’s president, Luis Dobles. The list contains 13 repeat offenders, amongst whom the vessel “Albatros” achieves a dubious first place with 23 illegal entries, followed by the vessel “Franju III” with 20 and in third place “Chaday1” with 18. In addition, the Franju S.A. company and its vessels “Franju II” and “Coopepes 20”, is responsible for a total of 24 illegal entries.

The action aims to force the authorities to act to enforce their legislation which, on paper, aims to protect the islands, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.