The Isla del Coco returns to the limelight.

Recently, Costa Rica’s famous Isla del Coco (Cocos Island) has been in the news, not only locally but worldwide. It’s reputation even dates back hundreds of years as legends tell it was a favorite hiding place for pirates and their treasures. Isla del Coco has been a National Park of Costa Rica since 1978 and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1997 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

More recently, the island was nominated for the prestigious New 7 Wonders of Nature contest to be announced in 2010. In response to this special event, MarViva, a non-profit organization whose aim is to protect marine resources in the Pacific and Caribbean, is promoting a writing contest whose grand prize is a 7-day, all expenses paid trip to the Isla del Coco. This prize is truly special as access to the island is usually strictly forbidden to tourists – only park rangers or scientists performing studies are usually allowed to enter or stay on this mysterious island. This contest is open to Costa Rican citizens and legal residents so put your thinking cap on and send your essay in if you apply.

Another effort to protect Isla del Coco and raise $100,000 (¢50 million) in funding for increased patrolling of the island is under way. The Fundación ‘Amigos de la Isla del Coco’ (Friends of Coco Island Foundation) and Wal-Mart Corp. have launched a campaign called ‘Verde Ayuda’ (Green Help). This campaign offers stickers for 100 colones with pictures of different species that live in or around the island’s natural habitats. The stickers and the collector’s booklet can be purchased at Hipermás, Más X Menos, Palí and Maxi Bodega.

Also, in recent news, a new law has been submitted to the National Assembly which proposes significant changes to Costa Rica’s out-dated or ineffective Fishing Laws. Fernando Sánchez, the National Assembly Representative who presented the project commented, “Because the island is rich in natural resources and is a World Heritage Site, we are proposing prison sentences that go from three to twelve years and fines of almost $50,000 (¢23 million) to penalize illegal fishermen who fish in Isla del Coco.” There have been countless cases where illegal fishermen are caught red-handed and the transgressors were walking free a few days later because there are no specific laws banning these practices.

About Isla del Coco

Isla del Coco has been a National Park of Costa Rica since 1978 and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1997 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Coco Island is located in the Pacific Ocean, off the province of Puntarenas, yet it is so far offshore it takes about 36 hours to reach by boat. Isla del Coco is one of Costa Rica’s most pristine National Parks because of its remote location – approximately 550 km (340 mi) from the Pacific shore of Costa Rica. With an area of approximately 23.85 km² (9.2 mi²) this island is more or less rectangular in shape and surrounded by deep waters. Coco Island is admired by scuba divers for its large populations of Hammerhead sharks, rays, dolphins and other large marine species, and by biologists and botanists in general. Its extremely wet climate and oceanic character give Coco an ecological character that’s entirely unique in this region of the world.

The island’s future as an unblemished natural habitat is threatened by many factors. One of the dangers comes from illegal fishing in waters that are part of the National Park. Part of the illegal fishing problem was highlighted in the recent controversial documentary, “Sharkwater”. This revealing film sparked a local and global movement which aims to stop shark finning. Other dangers Isla del Coco faces are non-native species like rats, cats and pigs. The sheer distance from the mainland and lack of resources are major hurdles in the protection of this natural wonder.

Picture cortesy of Diario Extra.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on April 4th, 2008