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Coco Island is one of Costa Rica’s most important islands located at 600 km. off the Pacific Coast. Considered among the top jewels of the Costa Rican biodiversity, Coco Island was also declared a World Heritage site in 1997.
Coco Island was recently the center of a conflict between a Panamanian fishing vessel and the park’s rangers. Apparently, the vessel was fishing for tuna within the protected water that surround the Coco Island.
This conflict sparked questions about the island’s safety up to the point in which the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae) has stepped in to take matters into their own hands.
The Minae has publicly committed to be more active in protecting the island from illegal fishing in the area. The Minae’s vice-minister has sent an open letter to the environmentalist organization, MarViva, in which he states that more measures are being taken to protect the Coco Island.
The Minae also mentioned that the French vessel, The Captain, will be arriving tomorrow. The Captain is financed by French funds for the Environment. The Minae has also requested the Friends of the Coco Island organization to repair the Coco’s Patrol.
In addition, the Juan Santamaria patrol will be sent to the Coco Island in order to contribute to its safety.
