According to the report a team of National Geographic researchers and filmmakers have become eyewitnesses to what many scientists consider to be among the major threats to marine biodiversity at Costa Rica’s treasured Isla del Coco, a national park 365 miles off the Pacific coast.
It is explained that the team arrived in Costa Rica three weeks ago to film part of National Geographic’s “Ocean Now” series. They filmed a green sea turtle and a yellowfin tuna wrapped in illegal fishing line. It is informed that the team was able to save the turtle, but when they untangled the tuna, the fish sank helplessly to the ocean floor.
Team researcher Enric Sala said that the last three days, they have witnessed firsthand what is killing the oceans. She also said that it was like waking up from the most wonderful dream to the crudest reality. It is fact that fishing is prohibited inside the park’s boundaries. Still, there are hundreds of illegal fishing lines and thousands of hooks are found inside the protected area every year.
It is said that the Coast Guard and non-governmental groups operate patrol boats to protect the island from poachers and illegal fisherman, but conservationists have consistently criticized the Costa Rican government for not doing enough to protect the park.
