Costa Rica signed an agreement with the conservationist organization Misión Tiburón (Mission Shark) this 2018 with the objective of consolidating and strengthening the sanctuary of hammerhead shark in the Golfo Dulce in waters of the Pacific.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy stated that this type of synergies allow the use of tools and resources that speed up the control and surveillance operations as is the case of technology and zoning.

“We are looking to contribute with scientific and monitoring investigations of the population of hammerhead sharks and other species of interest for conservation in the Golfo Dulce Hammerhead Shark Sanctuary and nearby areas. In addition to strengthening the control and surveillance program”, commented Minister of Environment Carlos Rodríguez.

According to the authorities, strengthening this sanctuary will benefit the population of hammerhead shark in the entire region of the Tropical East Pacific, including Isla del Coco (Coco Island) natural heritage of humanity.

The Golfo Dulce Hammerhead Shark Sanctuary was created back in May, 2018 to protect a critical nursery habitat for the Scalloped Hammerhead, a shark that is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

Golfo Dulce includes 276 species of fish, 296 species of mollusks, 71 species of macrocrustaceans, eight species of whales and dolphins and numerous rays. Sea turtles also feed here, including the Critically Endangered Hawksbill Turtle, Endangered Green Turtle and Vulnerable Olive Ridley