The boat was loaded with tuna fish that ahs been caught near Isla del Coco, a national park and marine protected area located 532 miles off the country’s Pacific coast. The boat is 67 meter long and was flying Panamanian flags when captured. It was outfitted with a helicopter for spotting schooling fish from the air, heavy-duty fish nets and a 25-person crew.
According to a news release from MarViva, a Costa Rica-based environmental group, informed that the Coast Guard, officials from the Environment and Energy Ministry and representatives from MarViva worked together to detain the boat and 25-person crew, who will be delivered to the port city of Puntarenas to face charges and a fine of up to $5 million, according to a report in the daily La Nación.
It is fact that god cooperation between the government and MarViva make such capture a huge success. MarViva group helped purchase, equip and staff boats to protect Isla del Coco National Park, designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1997. In order to protect such heritage the government and the group is working together to make the Island more suitable for legal fishing industry as well as for recreational fishing.
