The 36-hour crossing from Costa Rica’s port town of Puntarenas to Cocos Island had exceptionally calm seas, a beautiful sunset, and occasional pods of bottlenose dolphins riding the bow of the 115-foot SeaHunter, our home for the next ten days and 21 dives.

Some brown boobies accompanied us on part of the trip, flying around our vessel and picking off flying fish startled by the Sea Hunter (using the vessel much as cattle egrets use cows, riding along to catch the insects they stir up). The birds also used the vessel as a safe place to rest, landing on the railing unbothered by our close presence. One turtle, most likely an olive ridley, and a sea snake were spotted at the surface of the open sea.

Arriving at Cocos before sunrise, we awoke to greetings from boobies, white (fairy) terns, and one or both of the frigatebirds of Cocos, resembling miniature Archaeopteryx. The two species are hard to distinguish: the magnificent frigatebird is slightly larger, with a wingspan of 3 to 4 feet, while female great frigatebirds have a distinctive red eye ring. It was apparently mating season, as the males were regularly soaring the skies with their showy red gular sacs inflated.

While the two skiffs — one for the yellow team and one for the blue team, each with nine divers and two divemasters — were lifted off the mother ship by crane, we had an extensive safety briefing before plunging into the sea at Chatham Bay for our check-out dive, a chance to refine our buoyancy and test our equipment.

We were met with scores of colorful reef fish: blue and gold snappers, bright yellow juvenile hogfish cleaning, and Cortez rainbow wrasse cleaning red Pacific creolefish, known as sandía, or “watermelon” fish, in Spanish. Documenting fish-cleaning activity, a form of symbiosis, was one of our research objectives for the trip (more on that below).

Ever-present and abundant whitetip reef sharks were seen lying on the sand and swimming through the coral heads, and a beautiful marbled ray glided by to greet us.

It’s always great to be back “home” at Cocos Island, my favorite underwater place on the planet.

But I was alarmed by the water temperature — 84°F. The effects of an incipient El Niño were clearly felt in the overheated water and visible in coral bleaching, which I estimated to already be affecting 10–15% of the shallow coral in Chatham Bay.

Temperatures in the range of 82–86°F were felt throughout the trip, from the surface to depths of 100 feet, and coral bleaching was present at every dive site. El Niño was probably also responsible for a general reduced abundance of fish overall — schools seemed smaller, and fewer seabirds were seen diving on schools of small “bait” fish.

Oceanic Cleaning Stations

Oceanic cleaning stations — sometimes called the “spas (or car washes) of the sea” — are specific locations, often on coral reefs, where small animals remove wounded or dead skin and parasites from larger fish (and sometimes turtles), helping to maintain the health of their clients while getting an easy meal for themselves. This form of symbiosis is called mutualism, where both species benefit, and it’s critical to maintaining healthy marine communities. (When you don’t have hands, sometimes you need a little help from your friends.)

Documenting the various species of cleaner fish and their client fish is one measure of Cocos’s importance to both migratory and resident species — data collected on this trip, and others, will be compared with past and future regional studies at other oceanic island sites like Malpelo and the Galápagos in the Eastern Pacific.

A major draw for divers at Cocos is that several large sharks, especially scalloped hammerheads, use well-established cleaning stations, giving divers the chance to wait nearby for close encounters with a shark that normally keeps its distance from divers and their exhaled bubbles.

I believe these cleaning stations are especially important to female hammerheads following mating, which leaves them with open wounds from males aggressively biting and scraping the pectoral and gill region to align their bodies for copulation (again, fish don’t have hands). In fact, the vast majority of hammerheads at Cocos are females, and the cleaning stations seem most active when the wounds are recent.

Hammerheads swim into schools of yellow barberfish, and the less abundant king angels, slowing down and turning slightly sideways — probably signaling to the cleaner fish that they aren’t a threat and are ready for their “treatment.”

Hammerhead cleaning stations are found at several Cocos dive sites, with Manuelita Outside, Dirty Rock, and Alcyone being the most active.

This trip was timed to coincide with post-mating activity and the increased hammerhead numbers usually present in June and July, but cleaning activity was low this time. Plenty of hammerheads were seen, but in small schools, usually numbering 5–20 animals. Interestingly, no recent wounds were noted on the females, suggesting the mating season may have shifted this year — possibly due to El Niño. It’s also possible the hammerheads spent more time at depths below where we could dive, seeking cooler water.

Interestingly, the dive site at Little Dos Amigos, a cleaning station for Galápagos and hammerhead sharks, was quite active, with the big sharks being cleaned by yellow barberfish. Oceanic blacktips were also present and being cleaned, but I observed very few hammerheads, and none being cleaned.

The Giant Fish of Cocos Island

The highlight of this trip was seeing three of the five largest fish in the ocean — whale sharks, giant mantas, and tiger sharks — though these riches weren’t evenly distributed between the two skiffs, with the yellow team hitting the jackpot: three whale shark sightings, plus several giant mantas and tiger sharks!

Whale sharks were sighted on different dives: one at Alcyone, and twice at Little Dos Amigos.

These 30-foot behemoths, the largest fish in the sea, make their living filter-feeding on plankton. The whale sharks also provided passage for numerous remoras (suckerfish), which use a modified first dorsal fin — evolved into an oval, sucker-like organ — to hitch rides on sharks, mantas, other fish, turtles, and even whales and dolphins.

The relationship between remoras and their hosts can take various forms of symbiosis. It’s sometimes considered mutualistic, since remoras move around their hosts and feed on skin parasites while hitching a free ride. But it can also be viewed as parasitic: large numbers of remoras, each 1–3 feet long, can create significant drag, forcing even a whale shark to expend more energy to swim.

Another interesting observation, captured on video during this trip, was a Galápagos shark circling a whale shark and seemingly trying to eat the remoras off its body. Is this cleaning behavior a form of commensalism, where only one organism benefits (the Galápagos shark gets an easy meal, with no real benefit to the whale shark), or mutualism (the Galápagos shark gets a meal, and the whale shark benefits from reduced drag)?

Giant mantas are also filter feeders, with wingspans that can reach 22 feet. One encounter with a manta at Punta Maria lasted nearly 20 minutes, the animal moving back and forth and seemingly making eye contact with each diver. Remoras were seen on the giant mantas as well.

Cocos Island’s marine life is so diverse and dynamic, always in flux due to shifting weather and currents that deliver different water temperatures and nutrients. After 30 trips and more than 600 dives, I am always amazed, and never disappointed.

Help Turtle Island protect Cocos Island’s biodiversity and its highly migratory sharks and turtles. Take action to encourage its completion and support the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway Campaign with a donation.

Photo and video credits: Fish photos by Avi Klapfer, Hammerhead photo by Edwar Herreno. Whale shark video by Dr. Jason E. Farley and Mr. David Dial from Middle River, MD, Hammerhead shark and manta videos by Oscar Steiner.

For over 400 million years, many species of sharks have played critical roles in maintaining ocean ecosystems.

Today, there are over 500 shark species, and their function in the ocean varies greatly, ranging from the gentle whale shark that can grow to 32 feet in length, weigh over 20 tons while filter feeds on plankton, krill,  and small schooling fish and their eggs, to the dominant and fierce, marine predators such as the 15-foot white and 14-foot tiger shark as adults that feed on among other things marine mammals.  Some sharks are tiny, the smallest being the 8 inch dwarf lanternshark, which lives at depths of over 1,000 feet and feeds on organisms smaller than itself.

As humans fear of sharks has matured into an understanding that they are both essential to marine health, and now threatened with extinction, legislation has flourished over the past two decades, covering 70% of the world’s oceans, most commonly to prevent shark finning to reduce shark mortality from commercial fishing.

But shark finning legislation  hasn’t worked, according a study, Global shark fishing mortality still rising despite widespread regulatory change, published in one of the world’s top academic journals, Science 2024.

The authors report that between 2012-2019 shark deaths from fishing increased globally from 76 million to 80 million sharks per year, and that nearly 25 million of these shark species are endangered with extinction.

A consequence of the shark-finning regulations has reduced animal cruelty and waste, yet it is actually leading to an increase in shark consumption by people around the world, which may grow this market and ultimately increase the threats to shark survival.

Stronger action is needed in two areas: Regulate fishing to minimize impacts on unwanted catch of species and control effort to prohibit overfishing of targeted species; and one of the best ways to protect sharks and marine biodiversity generally is to create no-take marine reserves.  The good news is that some well-managed coastal no-take zones and some larger offshore no-take protected areas are allowing some shark population to increase and stabilize.

Unfortunately, at least in the US, the Trump administration has moved to roll back protections from marine reserves. In April 2025, President Trump issued an executive order calling for a review of existing marine monuments, followed by a proclamation opening the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine Monument south of Hawaii to commercial fishing. On February 6, 2026, he signed a further proclamation opening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing as well.

Turtle Island is working to keep sharks alive, concentrating efforts now on maintaining and increasing protection for marine reserves in the US and around the world. Now, you have the opportunity to speak out to protect sharks in the Atlantic as NOAA Fisheries is considering a dangerous rollback of protections after pressure from fishing interests claiming sharks are “overpopulated.” Act fast! The comment deadline closes on May 29, 2026.

We need your help! Please take additional action by:

1. Signing this petition to protect Northeast Canyons monument here.
2. Demanding Costa Rica to complete their portion of the Cocos-Galapagos Swimway here.
3. Signing up to receive actions from the TIRN Action Center here.

Header photo credit: NOAA.

DISCOUNT OFFER DUE TO CANCELLATION

Dive into Conservation: Join Us at Cocos Island

June 25 – July 5, 2026

Team up with Turtle Island Restoration Network on a research-driven expedition to Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica – where your support contributes to real science and ocean protection.

Expedition Highlights (click here to explore more details):

• 21 Dives Over 7 Full Days: All the diving (and luxury) you’d expect from an Undersea Hunter recreational trip, plus so much more.
• Shark Photo ID: Pick up your camera and make a difference – your images feed directly into long-term shark population studies and fish cleaning station research.
• Get Your Hands on Turtle Research: Go beyond observation. Observe in-water turtle capture, help with satellite tagging, and data collection alongside working researchers.
• Evening Lectures, Films & Conversations: Sit down with Turtle Island’s founder and leading experts to discuss Cocos research, global conservation campaigns, and the ocean policy fights happening right now.

This is your chance to dive with purpose. Whether you’re passionate about sharks, sea turtles, or simply want your trip to matter – this expedition is for you.

Ready to make waves? Contact me, Todd Steiner, at tsteiner@seaturtles.org or (415) 488-7652. We hope to sea you there!

Header image by Edwar Herreno.

The name Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) was chosen nearly 30 years ago to reflect the heart of our mission: protecting marine turtles and other marine species while honoring ancient creation stories, Indigenous wisdom, and the global reverence for turtles as symbols of life.

Why “Turtle Island”?

“Turtle Island” appears in the creation stories of Indigenous peoples around the world. It is central to the oral histories of several Native North American nations, including the Haudenosaunee, and also appears in ancient Hindu cosmology and the traditions of Indigenous peoples of Papua New Guinea, among others.

Across cultures, the turtle is revered as a sacred being—an embodiment of wisdom, endurance, and the interconnectedness of all life. Its deep relationship with the Earth makes the turtle a powerful symbol of both biological and cultural diversity.

By incorporating “Turtle Island” into our name, we seek to celebrate this shared global heritage and to honor Indigenous peoples and Indigenous knowledge systems that recognize humanity’s responsibility to care for the living world.

Why “Restoration”?

Protection alone is no longer enough. While safeguarding intact ecosystems remains critical, humans have profoundly damaged many of the life-support systems on which the planet depends.

“Restoration” reflects our commitment to repairing what has been broken—to restoring ecosystems, species, and ecological processes essential to a healthy Earth.

Turtle Island Restoration Network began as the Sea Turtle Restoration Project at the Earth Island Institute, founded by legendary environmentalist David Brower. Brower spoke passionately about the need for Conservation, Preservation, and Restoration (CPR). Including “Restoration” and “Island” in our name is a tribute to his enduring wisdom and advocacy.

Why “Network”?

Real change happens collectively. “Network” recognizes that TIRN’s mission  can only succeed through collaboration—among people, communities, scientists, advocates, and organizations united by shared values and a common purpose.

More About the Turtle Island Creation Stories

In many Indigenous North American traditions, Turtle Island refers to a world carried on the back of a great turtle. Through this lens, the turtle represents life itself—or that which sustains life.

“Turtle Island” Indigenous Art Print by Patrick Hunter, Ojibway.

What is remarkable is that similar creation stories appear across cultures separated by vast distances and thousands of years. Turtles have long served as a bridge between humans and nature, grounding spiritual belief in the living world.

Ancient Hindu mythology tells of the Earth resting on a turtle’s shell, supported by four elephants.

1877 drawing of the world supported on the backs of four elephants, resting on the back of a turtle.

In Papua New Guinea, Indigenous stories recount a giant sea turtle creating the island and carrying the first humans there to live.

A Papua New Guinea folk tale.

These stories—emerging independently across continents and millennia—underscore the universal significance of turtles in human understanding of the Earth’s origins.

Turtle Islands in Our Work

There are also striking geographic connections to our name. The founder of TIRN began his conservation career working in the Dry Tortugas, a remote archipelago 68 miles west of Key West, Florida. The islands are named for the abundance of nesting sea turtles (“tortugas”)—and the lack of fresh water that earned them the label “dry.”

Today, another key focus of our work is Cocos Island, Costa Rica, sometimes called “Turtle Island” for its importance to green and hawksbill sea turtles. This tiny, remote island lies 350 miles off the mainland in the Pacific Ocean. Never permanently inhabited by Indigenous peoples, and only briefly settled by Europeans, it is now a protected Costa Rican National Park and a vital refuge for marine life.

Following the Pacific leatherbacks journey from its feeding areas off the coast of California to its nesting ground in Papua resulted in a partnership with Wences Magun, an inspiring local leader who we helped found Mas Kagin Tapani Association (MAKATA) — meaning “Sea Guardians” in the local Takia and Bel languages of Madang.

In our efforts to save other critically endangered sea turtles such as the Kemp’s ridley and leatherback, our advocacy efforts have historically and currently remained focused on major threats to sea turtles, which are also causing havoc on multiple marine and terrestrial species such as direct harvest of endangered species, unsustainable industrial fishing, and extraction of and burning of fossil fuels.

Honoring Indigenous Lands and Knowledge

Our headquarters in Tocaloma, California, and much of our local restoration work are located on lands that were stewarded for thousands of years by the Coast Miwok people before being taken from them more than a century ago. These lands—including villages such as Tocaloma, Etcha Tamal (Nicasio), and Etcha Kolum (Tomales Bay)—remain sacred to the Miwok people today and contain burial grounds and other culturally significant sites.

We honor and support the Coast Miwok and other Indigenous peoples in their efforts to reclaim their history, culture, and sovereignty. We seek to learn from and uplift traditional ecological knowledge and to incorporate Indigenous perspectives as we work to restore ecological function and heal damaged landscapes.

With our name, Turtle Island Restoration Network, we aim to recognize, revere, and celebrate Indigenous wisdom and culture—and we hope it is understood in that spirit, not as misappropriation, but as respect and responsibility.

For Immediate Release, February 5, 2026

Contact: Todd Steiner, Founder & Special Projects, TSteiner@seaturtles.org  

Laurel Irvine, Communications Manager, LIrvine@seaturtles.org

Turtle Island Restoration Network Invites Divers and Ocean Enthusiasts to Join 2026 Cocos Island Expedition: A rare opportunity to explore one of the world’s greatest shark diving destinations, while supporting and conducting marine conservation.

COCOS ISLAND, COSTA RICA – Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) is seeking ocean enthusiasts and experienced divers to join a 10-day scuba diving and research expedition to Cocos Island National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from June 25th to July 5th, and one of the most remote dive sites on Earth.

Often called “the most beautiful island in the world” by Jacques Cousteau, Cocos Island lies in the Eastern Tropical Pacific and is the only island in the region with a tropical rainforest. Its remote waters are globally recognized as one of the best places on Earth to dive with sharks and experience large marine wildlife.

Participants will explore dramatic underwater seamounts and reefs that are home to massive schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, as well as whitetip reef sharks, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays, green sea turtles and an extraordinary diversity of endemic fish species found nowhere else on the planet.

“Cocos Island is one of the most extraordinary dive sites on Earth. After more than 30 trips and 600 dives, I am still humbled by its grandeur and the vitality of its underwater world. Each visit feels like traveling 200 years back in time – before our oceans were overfished and polluted. This is what healthy oceans once looked like – and what they can look like again if we choose to protect them, said Todd Steiner, founder of Turtle Island Restoration Network. “We are especially seeking underwater photographers for this trip to help capture this living time capsule – images that can help our research, protection and global action efforts.”

Dive and Travel with a Purpose

Beyond being a world-class dive adventure, the expedition directly supports TIRN’s ongoing conservation work in the region. For nearly a decade, Turtle Island Restoration Network has conducted shark and sea turtle research at Cocos Island, helping document illegal fishing threats and strengthen the scientific case for expanded protections.

Research conducted during past expeditions has contributed to the foundation for stronger conservation measures at Cocos Island and along the Cocos–Galápagos Swimway (one of the world’s first bi-national marine protected areas to save the marine species that migrate between Galapagos Marine Reserve and Cocos Island National Park).

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about marine research and conservation challenges facing the Eastern Tropical Pacific while experiencing one of the planet’s most iconic marine ecosystems.

Expedition Details

What: 10-day liveaboard scuba diving and research expedition

When: June 25 – July 5, 2026

Where: Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica

Vessel: Undersea Hunter Group’s 115-foot (35m) liveaboard vessel, Sea Hunter

 For more information on the Cocos Island Dive Expedition and how to book, visit www.seaturtles.org/our-work/our-programs/cocos-island. To protect the Cocos-Galapagos Swimway, visit www.seaturtles.org/the-cocos-galapagos-swimway.

Turtle Island Restoration Network is a global ocean conservation nonprofit with offices in California and Texas, whose mission is to inspire and mobilize people around the world to protect marine biodiversity, the oceans and watersheds that sustain all life on Earth.

Today marks a particularly hopeful day for our blue-green planet: the High Seas Treaty has officially entered into force, marking a truly historic moment for the ocean and for global cooperation! After decades of dedication by governments, scientists, Indigenous communities, civil society and ocean champions around the world, we now have the first comprehensive legal framework to protect marine biodiversity beyond national borders.

The speed and scale of support for the High Seas Treaty are extremely encouraging, reaching 60 ratifications in just two years! We now have the tools to protect nearly half the planet – the High Seas – which regulates our climate, sustains life and connects us all. This forward motion is a testament to multilateralism at its best, demonstrating that even in challenging times, we can come together to act for the greater good.

While this is a moment to celebrate, it is also the beginning of a promising new chapter. The Treaty’s entry into force sets the stage for action: more countries joining, strong institutions taking shape and the groundwork for the first High Seas marine protected areas. Every step forward brings us closer to turning ambition into impact. We now share the opportunity and the responsibility to transform this landmark agreement into lasting protection for the blue, ensuring it continues to sustain life on Earth for generations to come.

Please find the official press release for the High Seas Alliance good news below.

Historic High Seas Treaty Enters into Force, Launching a New Era of Global Ocean Governance

New York, 17 January 2026. Today the High Seas Treaty, formally the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), has officially entered into force, marking a historic milestone for global ocean protection and multilateral cooperation. 

Covering nearly half the planet, the High Seas lie beyond national borders and form part of the global commons. The United Nations Treaty establishes, for the first time, a legal framework to protect  biodiversity in these international waters and to ensure the benefits of their resources are shared fairly among nations.  

“The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement today stands as a monument to multilateralism and to the years of dedication, dialogue and cooperative action by countless committed people around the world. Global challenges, such as the climate and biodiversity crises, affect all of us. As such, global cooperation is not a choice, it is a necessity. This Treaty embodies hope, resolve, and a shared commitment to a brighter future for the ocean and our planet” said Singapore’s Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee, who served as President of the Treaty negotiations and was pivotal in guiding states to its successful adoption in 2023. 

With entry into force, the Treaty now provides the tools to create marine protected areas (MPAs) on the High Seas, set clear obligations on how to ensure ocean resources are used sustainably, capacity building and access to technology and tools is prioritised, and mechanisms are established to ensure fair benefit-sharing. This will play a crucial role in achieving global biodiversity and climate goals, including the target to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.

Following two decades of discussions and negotiations, the Treaty text was finalised in March 2023. Sixty country ratifications were required for it to enter into force- a milestone that was reached on 19 September 2025. Today, 120 days later, the Treaty officially becomes international law, and its first Conference of Parties (CoP), the Treaty’s decision-making body, is set to meet within a year.

“The High Seas are full of life- from tiny plankton all the way up to the great whales that rely on them. We’re only just beginning to understand how important this vast, interconnected world is for the health of our entire planet. Whether it’s underwater mountains, deep-sea plains and trenches, the icy polar waters, or the open-ocean highways that migratory species travel, the High Seas are as vital as they are immense. With the High Seas Treaty now coming into force, we finally have the tools to safeguard this extraordinary part of our planet. Protecting it really does mean protecting our future,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance.

Several legal obligations apply from today. While some of them are dependent on the set up of the Treaty’s institutions and mechanisms, there are some actionable examples from day one, including any planned activity under a Party’s control that could affect the High Seas or seabed must follow the Treaty’s environmental impact assessment processes, and governments need to publicly notify such activities. Parties must also promote the Treaty’s objectives when participating in other bodies such as those that govern shipping, fisheries and seabed mining.

Ultimately the Treaty’s true power will depend on how it is collectively implemented and upheld in the years ahead. A broader membership will make it more impactful. With 82 parties already on board, momentum is building and more countries are encouraged to join ahead of CoP1. 

Meanwhile, the Treaty’s institutional architecture- its bodies and decision-making processes- is currently being shaped through the UN Preparatory Commission, which must deliver strong proposals for adoption at CoP1 so the Treaty can start functioning as soon as possible. Countries are also encouraged to begin identifying important High Seas sites that require protection, so proposals can be brought forward at future CoPs.  

“At this halfway point of this critical decade, one of the world’s most ambitious ocean initiatives is entering a new era of systemic change in ocean governance. This reflects a renewed commitment to our ocean, its wildlife, the millions of people that rely on its health, and the global goals set for 2030. The High Seas Treaty shows us that meaningful progress is achieved through vision, perseverance and leadership. As we begin a new year, The Earthshot Prize is committed to backing  this landmark Treaty and ensuring it moves beyond words to become a practical and enforceable safeguard for our remarkable blue planet” said Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Since its founding in 2011, the High Seas Alliance, with its 70+ non-governmental members, has been working towards protecting the 50% of the planet that is the High Seas; the global ocean beyond national jurisdiction. This area includes some of the most biologically important, least protected, and most critically threatened ecosystems in the world.
• The official status of signatures and ratifications can be found on the UN website and the High Seas Alliance’s ratification tracker. Note: The number shown on the High Seas Alliance tracker reflects only the ratifications that count toward entry into force and does not include the EU’s ratification and therefore differs from the UN’s total count. 
• The High Seas Alliance (HSA) sometimes uses the term “High Seas Treaty“ as a short-hand for the BBNJ Agreement. HSA acknowledges that the scope of the BBNJ Agreement encompasses all Areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the seafloor and water column. This choice of wording is intended to ease understanding for broad audiences and does not convey a prioritization among the components or principles of the BBNJ Agreement.
• In November 2025 the High Seas Treaty was announced as the winner of the prestigious Earthshot Prize in the “Revive our Oceans” category, recognizing the decades-long efforts to put in place a groundbreaking legal framework to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. 

MEMBERS’ QUOTES

“The entry into force of the High Seas Treaty marks a long-awaited turning point for ocean governance. For decades, these vast waters—and the abundance of biodiversity that inhabits them—were beyond the reach of effective protection. Now, the global community has both the mandate and the responsibility to act. The High Seas Alliance has shown what sustained collaboration can achieve, and the work ahead must focus on implementation. Our team at Marine Conservation Institute is excited to engage in this work to establish fully and highly protected areas, apply science-based standards, and ensure accountability so that this agreement delivers real, lasting protection for the ocean.” – Dr. Lance Morgan, CEO, Marine Conservation Institute

“On behalf of the WILDOCEANS programme of the WILDTRUST, we would like to congratulate the High Seas Alliance on reaching this pivotal milestone entering the conservation and protection of our high seas into force. We look forward to being able to move forward with our work on a Sub-Atlantic High Seas MPA, thanks to your efforts.” – Dr Jean Harris Strategic Ocean Lead: WILDTRUST

“What an excellent start to the year, with the High Seas Treaty entering into force today. With 124 partners in 119 countries, BirdLife International stands ready to help bring this landmark agreement to life. Our local-to-global partnership and tools such as Key Biodiversity Areas can support governments to prioritise protection and deliver urgently needed ocean action.” – Martin Harper, CEO, BirdLife International

“This is a turning point for ocean conservation. For too long, the high seas have been a vast void in global governance—teeming with life but lacking the protections to ensure its survival. With the High Seas Treaty entering into force, the world has a chance to rewrite that story. Now governments must move swiftly from ratification to real-world impact, creating protected areas and safeguarding marine wildlife in places that have never known protection. IFAW stands ready to support bold, science-based action that puts biodiversity first” – Matthew Collis, Senior Director of Policy, IFAW

“The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is a landmark moment for the ocean and for multilateralism, proving that even in politically turbulent times, countries can unite for the common good. If implemented as intended, the Agreement will be a true game-changer for marine life and biodiversity. However, the real challenge now is to turn this historic achievement into concrete action, addressing threats from plastic pollution and underwater noise against the broader backdrop of climate change, ensuring that the High Seas are safeguarded for future generations.” – Fabienne McLellan, Managing Director at OceanCare

“The High Seas Treaty’s entry into force is a major step forward for ocean protection and global cooperation,” said Antha Williams, who leads the environment program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Through the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, we’ve worked with partners across the international community to help reach this milestone. As countries move to implement the Treaty, we’ll keep supporting efforts to accelerate the creation of High Seas Marine Protected Areas, which are essential to meeting global 30×30 goals, and to strengthen capacity so countries can move quickly from agreement to lasting protections for the ocean and the people who depend on it.” 

“The High Seas Treaty opens the door to better protecting nearly half the Earth’s surface, but for the Treaty to reach its full potential, wider ratification is essential,” said Dr. Katie Matthews, Chief Scientist at Oceana. “If world leaders are serious about protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, ambitious action on the high seas is necessary. This is a shared responsibility and the time to act is now.”

“Today’s entry into force of the High Seas Treaty marks a truly historic step toward safeguarding the ocean that connects and sustains us all,” said Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “This achievement reflects years of dedication from global leaders and the unwavering advocacy of partners like the High Seas Alliance. While we celebrate this moment, we also recognize the immense work still ahead to translate this agreement into real protections for marine biodiversity. The Nature Conservancy remains committed to helping the world seize this opportunity and ensure that the high seas thrive for generations to come.”

“AIDA welcomes the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, a landmark achievement for global ocean governance and protection. The Agreement enables progress toward the effective implementation of the principle of the common heritage of humankind and strengthens capacity building and technology transfer, key elements for ensuring equitable participation across all regions, particularly in Latin America. AIDA will continue to support the Treaty’s implementation and global engagement, for the benefit of the ocean and the communities that depend on it”. – Gladys Martínez de Lemos, Executive Director of the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense

“The new Ocean Treaty is the culmination of a generation’s work to bring a new dimension to the regulation of the ocean. Not only the regulation of state’s rights vis a vis the sea, but the regulation of the relationship between the ocean and the planet’s sustainability. The Ocean Treaty may be the beginning of a new international world ocean order, coming at a time when the architecture of global multilateralism is falling apart. It should be treasured as a beacon of hope.” – Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO, Oceano Azul Foundation 

“The High Seas Treaty entering into force is a historic moment in ocean protection, forged with the support of communities, scientists and leaders around the world. For too long, the high seas have been a vast void in global governance, resulting in a free for all for industrial fishing companies that have devastated fish stocks across the world. Now the high seas has a chance to recover. RISE UP celebrates this achievement and will continue the fight to ensure the ocean remains healthy and resilient for everyone.” – Flora McMorrin, Executive Director, RISE UP for the Ocean

“Two-thirds of the ocean lies outside of all national borders, and the vast majority of those waters are vulnerable to threats like overfishing and pollution. But today, with the U.N. high seas treaty’s entry into force, that can start to change. Nations must now use the treaty’s blueprint to build the necessary institutions, procedures and bodies that will create a solid foundation from which to carry out the agreement’s conservation vision: to create lasting protections for the high seas.” – Liz Karan, director of ocean governance at The Pew Charitable Trusts

“The passage of the High Seas Treaty is a long-awaited milestone for global ocean protection. Now the real work begins—turning this landmark agreement into action by establishing High Seas Marine Protected Areas that are essential to the recovery of highly migratory species such as sea turtles, whales, and sharks.” – Todd Steiner, founder Turtle Island Restoration Network

“The BBJN Treaty coming into force is a watershed moment for ocean governance. For the first time, the world has a mechanism to protect nearly half the planet that has long been exploited but rarely defended. The challenge now is to turn legal possibility into meaningful protection. Blue Marine Foundation stands ready to support Governments and local champions to turn this agreement into action for the ocean, promote the creation of ambitious, well‑managed High Seas marine protected areas and ensure this Treaty delivers real benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience and the coastal communities who depend on a healthy ocean.” – Jo Coumbe, Communications Director, Blue Marine Foundation

“The High Seas Treaty is a breakthrough moment for our ocean. Its coming into force is a call for action to younger generations and others to help create the future they want to see for our blue planet. For the first time, we can protect our shared ocean beyond national borders through High Seas Marine Protected Areas that will help sustain life on Earth. Nations have made big commitments, and now it’s time to hold governments accountable for strongly protecting at least 30% of our world ocean. Doing so will create a thriving future for our blue planet and future generations.” – Bill Mott, Executive Director of The Ocean Project | World Ocean Day

“The high seas belong to all of us — and starting this month, the world finally has a legal framework to protect them. The entry into force of the High Seas Treaty marks a turning point for our shared oceans. This milestone reflects decades of collective effort, but it’s only the beginning. Ambition must meet accountability. The job now is to create the first wave of marine protected areas on the high seas. As the climate and biodiversity crises accelerate, this is about safeguarding vast ocean areas that sustain marine life, regulate weather patterns, absorb heat and carbon, and provide food and livelihoods for billions of people.” – Monica Medina, Arnhold Fellow at Conservation International and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

“With the current geopolitical upheaval, the entry into force of the BBNJ Treaty is a welcome reminder that when nations come together, we can achieve great things for all of humanity. Congratulations to everyone around the world who helped bring about this historic feat. The ocean continues to face an onslaught of threats, from climate change, pollution, overfishing, and unless we stop it, deep-sea mining. Most of the ocean, half our planet, lies beyond any nation’s border and belongs to all of us. We must now act with urgency to implement the treaty and protect our shared heritage for the sake of our own survival and that of all living beings.” – Farah Obaidullah, Director, The Ocean and Us.

“Today’s entry into force of the High Seas Treaty represents more than a legal milestone—it’s a commitment to the generations who have been calling for bold action to protect our shared ocean. For too long, nearly half of our planet’s surface has existed beyond meaningful protection. Now, we have the tools to change that. At EarthEcho International, we’ve witnessed firsthand the passion young people bring to ocean advocacy through our High Seas Youth Ambassadors program in collaboration with the High Seas Alliance. Youth understand what’s at stake, but a treaty is only as powerful as its implementation. We must move swiftly to establish marine protected areas, engage youth voices in governance, and ensure this landmark achievement translates into real protection for the incredible biodiversity of our high seas. The ocean connects us all, and protecting it is our shared responsibility—to each other and to the future”. – Philippe Cousteau, Ocean Restorationist and founder of EarthEcho International and Voyacy Regen

“Today is a day for celebration, we have finally reached one of the most important milestones in protecting our ocean. On behalf of Fundación MarViva, we congratulate the countries that have taken the step forward and ratified the BBNJ Treaty and invite others to join the new wave of marine protection. We look forward to collaborating with countries to promote the protection of key High Seas ecosystems such as the Thermal Dome.” – Katherine Arroyo Arce, Fundación MarViva

“Today marks a long-overdue and historic step to address governance gaps that have hindered the protection of ocean life in the high seas. The High Seas Treaty’s entry into force reflects a global ambition aimed at reversing ocean decline and safeguarding the biodiversity that sustains our planet. But what comes next will define this critical agreement’s success. Effective implementation will depend on transparency of information that makes human activity at sea visible, measurable and accountable. By mapping and monitoring human activity at sea, Global Fishing Watch will continue to provide the data and insights needed to drive biodiversity protection and turn ambition into action that delivers real, lasting protection for biodiversity, fisheries and coastal communities around the world. Global Fishing Watch stands ready to support effective implementation of this vital treaty.” – Tony Long, CEO, Global Fishing Watch

“The High Seas Treaty represents a powerful milestone for global collaboration in the protection of marine life and biodiversity, paving the way for the acceleration of marine conservation in the High Seas for the first time. While celebrating this major achievement and recognising the immense efforts that made it possible, we remain committed to translating its ratification into tangible action, particularly in the Mediterranean.” – Ioannis Giovos, Conservation Officer, Environmental Organisation iSea

“The high seas treaty is a historic achievement and a testament to the possibilities of cooperation. It is now up to the international community to implement the treaty with the dedication and ambition that it deserves. We expect everyone to step up and do their fair share, rather than look for loopholes. This responsibility applies especially to the states with significant financial and technological resources, including Germany.” – Sascha Müller-Kraenner, CEO, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Ecological Action Germany

“Today we celebrate the High Seas Treaty coming into force – giving a vital framework for protection of our ocean on which all life depends. GlobalChoices celebrates that this includes the frozen ocean and bolsters our efforts to protect the Central  Arctic Ocean from exploitation. At a time when multilateralism seems at an all time low, we can celebrate this Treaty as an example of the good that can be achieved if we choose to collaborate.”– Inge Relph Executive Director GlobalChoices

“Half of the world is beyond national jurisdiction – the blue half that has a disproportionately significant role in maintaining Earth as a planet hospitable for life as we know it. Today, with the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, marks a significant step in the right direction. Now is the time to take this action and keep going. The ocean is large and resilient, but not too big to fail – and we have an opportunity now to drive impactful ocean protection. Bravo to the High Seas Alliance and all involved for reaching this significant milestone!” – Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue

MEDIA PACK

The following folder contains the following resources:

1. High Seas Treaty Q&A
2. Briefing Note: Legal Implications of the Impending Entry into Force of the BBNJ Agreement
3. MPA factsheet
4. PrepCom factsheet
5. A cost-benefit analysis of the BBNJ Agreement in the Caribbean
6. Recording of the Media Briefing “A historic moment: High Seas Treaty’s entry into force” held on 13 January 2026. 
7. Video: Celebrating the Entry into Force of the High Seas Treaty

CONTACT

For questions or to arrange interviews, please contact: Patricia Roy patricia@communicationsinc.co.uk + 34 696 905 907

Photo by NOAA. Leatherbacks swim through international waters on their long migrations, where they are threatened by industrial fishing activities. Turtle Island Restoration Network has been working for decades to protect this critically endangered species. 

After more than two decades of negotiations, a landmark global treaty to protect our oceans was finally ratified in September! With the 60th nation’s approval, the number required for adoption – the United Nations High Seas Treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction will come into force in January 2026.

Turtle Island Restoration Network has been proud to be part of the High Seas Alliance for over a decade and to help make this moment possible. This treaty gives us a powerful new tool to protect marine life in international waters—covering nearly half the planet and two-thirds of the ocean beyond any country’s jurisdiction.

The treaty allows for the creation of marine protected areas, regulates the use of marine genetic resources, and ensures fair sharing of benefits. It also promotes capacity building and requires environmental impact assessments for activities in these vast ocean regions. One of its most ambitious goals: to place 30 percent of the high seas under protection by 2030.

While the United States signed the agreement under the Biden Administration, the Republican Senate has not yet provided the “advice and consent” needed for full U.S. ratification. And as with all U.N. treaties, enforcement is limited—but ratifying countries pledge to uphold it and can work together to encourage others to respect its provisions.

This treaty comes at a critical time. Previous actions, such as President Trump’s executive order allowing NOAA to permit deep-sea mining in international waters, risked violating the U.N. Law of the Sea treaty, which forbids mining until proper global regulations are in place. The International Seabed Authority, responsible for creating those rules, has repeatedly delayed their issuance.

The ratification of the High Seas Treaty is a major step forward, giving us new leverage to protect marine wildlife—like turtles, whales, and sharks—and the ecosystems they depend on. But the real work begins now: creating and enforcing protections that keep our oceans healthy and vibrant.

With your support, Turtle Island Restoration Network will continue to fight for these protections and ensure the high seas remain a safe home for marine life.

California’s coastal waters may soon be free of two of the most destructive fishing methods ever deployed… set gillnets and drift gillnets, thanks to new laws that will finally phase out these outdated and indiscriminate gears!

The Slow Sunset of Set Gillnets

Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of Assembly Bill 1056 in October 2025 marks a crucial step toward ending California’s set gillnet fishery – an archaic and wasteful practice that has entangled and killed more than 125 species of marine life, including whales, leatherback turtles, dolphins, sharks and sea lions. Read the California Bycatch Report from April 2023 here.

Set gillnets, nearly invisible monofilament walls up to a mile long, are used to catch halibut, primarily around the Channel Islands, a United Nations–designated International Biosphere Reserve. While an earlier, stronger bill that would have banned set gillnets within three miles of shore stalled in committee, AB 1056 takes a longer-term approach. The law restricts permit transfers to a single family member, ensuring that as the remaining roughly 30 permit holders retire, the fishery will phase out entirely. This generational sunset doesn’t happen overnight, but it does ensure that the end of this indiscriminate fishery is finally in sight.

California Drift Gillnets Set to Disappear by 2027

The notorious California drift gillnet fishery, targeting swordfish and sharks, will be completely phased out by 2027, ending decades of deadly bycatch and failed management. This victory is the result of Turtle Island Restoration Network’s (TIRN) ten-year campaign, which began in 2016 and culminated in a successful phase-out law passed in 2022, after being vetoed by President Trump in 2020. As part of that campaign, TIRN published five reports documenting this devastation and exposing the economic absurdity of continuing this fishery. These massive almost invisible nets, stretching a mile long and 200 feet deep, have entangled thousands of untargeted animals over the years. Read TIRN’s overview report here.

Marine Mammals Caught and Killed

In just one decade, an estimated 885 whales, dolphins and other marine mammals were caught – accounting for 87% of all marine mammals killed in observed West Coast fisheries. Casualties included five species of whales, seven dolphin species, northern elephant seals and California sea lions. More on this in TIRN’s drift gillnet report here.

Sharks Killed and Mostly Discarded

Sharks fared no better: more than 26,000 were caught over a ten-year span, most discarded dead or injured. 60% of those were species listed as Threatened or Endangered by the IUCN, including shortfin makos and smooth hammerheads. More on this in TIRN’s drift gillnet report here.

The Driftnet Fishery Costs Taxpayers More to Manage than it Earns for Fishermen

The driftnet fishery has long been a bad deal for both taxpayers and marine life. It costs more to monitor and regulate than the value of the fish it catches. Because driftnets are inherently destructive, entangling everything in their path, strict oversight is essential to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and to protect public marine resources.

According to a 2018 economic report by TIRN (read here), the fishery’s annual catch was worth about $600,000 (based on 2013 data), while management and enforcement costs were more than double that amount. In total, the driftnet fishery operated at a net loss of $268,500 to $2 million per year – a costly and unsustainable burden on taxpayers and ocean ecosystems alike. The bottom line is clear: a mile-long, nearly invisible net cannot be used responsibly.

Celebrate—But Stay Vigilant

These victories mark an extraordinary step forward for California’s marine wildlife. Yet history shows that once a fishery closes, industry often seeks to reopen it -sometimes under the guise of “scientific research.” TIRN will remain vigilant to ensure these gains aren’t rolled back. For now, let’s celebrate this milestone toward, safer, and more sustainable oceans for marine wildlife.

In our recent past, the state of Hawai‘i allowed the commercial removal of reef wildlife for sale in the mainland aquarium trade – damaging coral ecosystems, depleting reefs and destroying marine habitats. After years of relentless campaigning at every level of government, Reef Defenders of Hawai’i succeeded in shutting down this harmful trade. Now, the executive branch is now afoot to reopen the trade.

Activists took this fight to court and won. After years in circuit court, the appellate court and finally the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, the courts ruled to end the trade on injunctive relief and pending an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). But instead of an independent review, the mainland aquarium trade group – the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) – was allowed to write the EIS itself.

PIJAC, best known for lobbying Congress on behalf of puppy mills, produced a deeply flawed report that ignored the environmental devastation caused by aquarium collection in Hawai‘i’s reefs. The PIJAC EIS on aquarium devastation to Hawaii reefs missed the point and failed.

This Thursday, October 23th, the Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) plans to grant aquarium collection permitting authority to the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). If approved, this move will sidestep public notice, silence community response and fast-track new collection permits – opening the door once again to unrestricted exploitation of Hawai‘i’s reef wildlife and habitats.

Will you use your voice to protect Hawai’i’s coral reefs and marine wildlife? Please use the email template below and send your message before Thursday morning!

Email: BLNR.Testimony@Hawaii.gov

Subject: October 24 Agenda Item F.2

Body: Please include your name, home island and town (if you are outside of Hawai’i, please do still submit your testimony and include the islands you visit). Here are some quick talking points to get started… “Hawai’i is in my heart, no reef wildlife trafficking for the aquarium trade, I want Hawai’i’s reefs intact, I want coral cover and biodiversity, not the shambles rendered on aquarium decimation!”

This summer I attended the United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, with a clear purpose: to urge Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles to finalize protection for the Cocos–Galápagos Swimway. This vital migratory corridor connects two of the world’s most important marine reserves and is now supported by more than 150 NGOs, 350 scientists from 41 nations, and over 10,000 members of the public who have formally called on the Costa Rican government to act.

You might expect that Costa Rica, famous for its environmental leadership, would champion this effort to protect endangered marine wildlife. The Swimway would safeguard at least four species of endangered sharks and two species of endangered sea turtles, including the magnificent hammerhead and whale sharks and the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle. These species travel this route every year, playing a vital role in maintaining the health of our ocean ecosystems.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case and what I learned about the political situation in Costa Rica may shock you. Costa Rican President Chaves has taken a stance at odds with Costa Rica’s proud legacy of environmental stewardship and democratic transparency. Environmental and civil society leaders in Costa Rica report that his administration has sought to silence critics — from journalists and university scientists to everyday citizens. The parallels to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tactics are hard to ignore. You can read more about this troubling trend — and what’s at stake for ocean conservation — in my op-ed first published in the Revelator, published by the Center for Biological Diversity.

This summer I attended the United Nations Ocean Conference, cosponsored by France and Costa Rica, to pressure Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles to complete the Cocos-Galapagos Swimway, now supported by more than 150 NGOs, 350-plus scientists from 41 nations, and more than 10,000 members of the public who have expressed their written support to the Costa Rican government.

You might think Costa Rica with its lengthy reputation of environmental protection would be an ardent supporter of this important marine protected area that will protect at least four species of endangered sharks and two species of endangered sea turtles, including endangered hammerhead and whale sharks and critically endangered leatherback sea turtles, all of whom migrate along the Swimway and play an integral ecological role in the health of the Ocean. Unfortunately, you would be wrong.

Costa Rica’s President Chaves been contrary to Costa Rica’s longstanding status as an environmental and democratic leader, but the president has taken undemocratic actions to tamp down criticism — ranging from the public to university scientists and media, according to environmental and civil rights leaders within Costa Rica. Sound familiar? It appears Chaves is taking his cues from President Donald Trump.

Map of Proposed Cocos-Galapagos Swimway. Credit MigraMar.org

Most marine protected areas are designated within a specific country’s territorial waters to protect species who generally do not migrate far. The C-G Swimway, by contrast, would be a bilateral marine protected area that would connect Costa Rica’s Cocos Island National Park to Ecuador’s Galápagos Marine Reserve to protect highly migratory species. When completed it will stretch approximately 400 miles and encompass a large swath of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean that’s under the control of these two nations through their respective and overlapping Exclusive Economic Zones.

More importantly, it will protect at least four species of endangered sharks and two species of endangered sea turtles, including endangered hammerhead and whale sharks and critically endangered leatherback sea turtles, all of whom migrate along the Swimway and play an integral ecological role in the health of these two UN Biosphere Reserves. The two reserves share many species in common, including vast schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks.

Hammerhead sharks at Cocos Island. Photo: Edwar Herreno

Ecuador protected its half of the Swimway in 2021 by enlarging its no-fishing zone to the border of Costa Rica. Shockingly, Costa Rica has failed to act. While Costa Rica has long rested on its reputation of being one the “greenest” and most democratic nations in Latin America — 25% of its land is protected in national parks and other reserves, and the country abolished its military forces in 1948 — its failure to act and opposition signals a new alarming chapter.

Today, many North Americans are surprised to learn that Costa Rica’s vast ocean area — 11 times larger than its land mass — and its marine wildlife are highly exploited by industrial fishers that have more influence over policy under Chaves than before. This threatens the ocean areas and the ecological integrity of Costa Rica’s marine ecosystems. And now they’re under even greater threat.

Not only have Chaves’s actions been contrary to Costa Rica’s longstanding status as an environmental and democratic leader, but the president has taken undemocratic actions to tamp down criticism — ranging from the public to university scientists and media, according to environmental and civil rights leaders within Costa Rica. Sound familiar? It appears Chaves is taking his cues from President Donald Trump.

In what can only be called boastful greenwashing, he basked in the limelight of the UN gathering of over 15,000 attendees, serving as cochair of the conference and addressing the delegates in boastful platitudes about Costa Rica’s ocean-protection actions. In reality his administration has stalled, stymied and rolled back protections for sharks, sea turtles, and other marine species found in the country’s jurisdictional waters and failed to take action to complete the Swimway.

Costa Rica President Chaves at United Nations Ocean Conference, Nice France. Photo: Lynette McLamb

For example, President Chaves took credit for the 2021 Costa Rica expansion of Cocos Island National Park and the Bicentennial Marine Management Area, which has allowed Costa Rica to falsely misrepresent that it has met its 30×30 ocean protection goal, a global initiative by over 100 countries to conserve at least 30% of the Earth’s land and ocean areas by 2030.

But the policies to protect the 38,600 square mile marine area — created by Chaves’ predecessor — have stalled under his leadership, as he ignores a multitude of scientific studies indicating the importance of protecting the Cocos-Galapagos Swimway. More than three years into his presidency, the area remains a marine “protected” area in name only — with no regulations in place to restrict fishing or other harmful activities that are driving critically endangered leatherback turtles and sharks toward extinction.

Chaves’ rhetoric at the UN Ocean Conference was slammed as hypocritical by legislators, environmentalists and Costa Rican civil society. To tamp down dissent, his administration even obstructed renowned Costa Rican marine scientists’ UN accreditations, having them withdrawn to thwart democratic political discourse. Some are now referring to Chaves as a “mini-Trump.” In June Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal banned him from participating in next year’s 2026 election campaign, highlighting the ongoing tensions between his administration and Costa Rica’s judicial branches.

And in July Costa Rica’s Supreme Court asked the country’s legislature to strip Chaves of his legal immunity so he can stand trial on corruption charges. Costa Rican environmental activist Randall Arauz, a recipient of Goldman Environmental Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious environmental awards, was on hand to criticize the Chaves administration for its failure to protect marine wildlife.

“How can the Costa Rican government claim to be protecting our oceans,” he said, “when they ignore a Supreme Court order to end the fishing of endangered hammerhead sharks and continue to allow commercialization of marine wildlife for the profit of a few and at the expense of healthy marine ecosystems? Hypocrisy is an understatement. They are in the pockets of the industrial fishing industry.”

“Without strict regulations to eliminate fishing along the Swimway, sea turtles and sharks will continue to die on longline hooks,” said Ken Bouley, executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network.

Costa Rica can and hopefully will live up to its longstanding international reputation as an environmental leader by completing the Swimway and banning the commercial exploitation of endangered hammerhead sharks. Unfortunately, it may have to await the will of Costa Rican citizens to elect a truly green president in next year’s election.

Three ways to take action: Tell Chaves to complete the Cocos-Galapagos and protect two UN Biosphere Reserves!

1. Individuals
2. Scientists
3. Organizations