Malapelo Finning

Bad news eminating from Malpelo where there seems to have been massive finning.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011...ssacre-colombia

Does anyone have more info on this.

E

That's been happening for a while. That's why I tell people NOT to publicly write about dive sites with healthy shark populations that are in areas that aren't easily protected. The fishermen have internet too and shark fin traders are well educated and informed about things. The same thing happened in the Coral Sea and a few spots in South East Asia.

I have a buddy coming off the Inula tomorrow. He'll be able to tell me what the latest is in Malpelo.

That's been happening for a while. That's why I tell people NOT to publicly write about dive sites with healthy shark populations that are in areas that aren't easily protected. The fishermen have internet too and shark fin traders are well educated and informed about things. The same thing happened in the Coral Sea and a few spots in South East Asia.

I have a buddy coming off the Inula tomorrow. He'll be able to tell me what the latest is in Malpelo.

Indeed it is happening everywhere, but this is a huge scale. There don t seem to be reports of ths anywhere else so would be good to find out what is happening there.

Best Erol

I have always wanted to go to Malpelo having been to the Cocos twelve times. It truly breaks my heart to read this. That the Costa Rican/Columbian government say they 'energetically oppose' these egregious acts, in actuality, they plain lie. These governments are doing nothing at all constructive to actively protect either Malpelo or the Cocos. The island rangers at the Cocos just stay on the island until new boats come with divers and then get on their skiffs to collect the island fees. Rarely do they ever leave the island, and never at night when the finning and long lining boats come in. I used to be happy to pay the ever increasing island fees figuring they were going to a good cause. Now I know, they are going into someone's pocket. At the Cocos, the silver tip sharks are all gone, decimated. The hammerheads and white tips have greatly been reduced in number. Even the marble rays, turtles and jacks are no where near where they used to be in numbers. Hated to read this, it really is upsetting to me.

Steve

And these criminals in Costa Rica! http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/T...October-14-2011

"With only spines attached, shark fins come ashore

Posted: Friday, October 14, 2011 - By Karla Arias Alvarado

Foreign fishing ships are bringing in shark skeletons – the flesh shaved away – with just their fins attached to the body. Local fishermen see this as another way that fishing fleets are evading shark finning laws."

Arvid from the Inula was the one who wrote into the Ministry about this story. According to my friend who was on the trip where this report came from.

He confirms here were many fishing boats around Malpelo since there was no Columbian Navy patrol. Very sad!

Jailed... But didn't state how long is the jail sentence... http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/n...k-massacre.html

A fair sentence for these fishermen would be to cut off their arms and throw them overboard!

Jailed... But didn't state how long is the jail sentence... http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/n...k-massacre.html

A fair sentence for these fishermen would be to cut off their arms and throw them overboard!

I rather do that to the traders...