Gang attacks Costa Rican environmentalist investigating illegal shark-finning

By The Tico Times
Monday, January 10, 2011 Thugs on Saturday allegedly chased a biologist through a crowded market in the Pacific port of Puntarenas after he attempted to film shark fins drying at a makeshift dock. Investigating Costa Rica’s profitable shark-fin trade appears to be an increasingly dangerous undertaking. For the second time in less than a month, unknown assailants in the fishing community of Puntarenas have attacked outside observers as they attempted to film shark fins drying at private docks. First celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was attacked by “gangsters” and doused with gasoline as he and a film crew investigated Costa Rica’s seedy shark-fin trade for an upcoming British TV episode on Channel 4’s Big Fish Fight (TT, Jan. 3). Now, biologist Jorge Ballestero, of the Marine Turtle Restoration Program (PRETOMA), says he barely escaped a beating after attempting to film shark fins drying on the ground in unsanitary conditions at a dock next to Puntarenas’ central market. Local fishermen tipped off Ballestero that a large quantity of shark fins had been unloaded at an unauthorized private dock by a fishing vessel flying a Salvadoran flag. When he took out a video camera to begin filming at the site, a group of “five or six young men” approached him and began threatening him, he said. Ballestero fled to an adjacent market filled with midday shoppers and flagged down police. But his ordeal wasn’t over. “I escaped a beating, but the police officers treated me as if I did something wrong,” Ballestero said. “They asked for my identification, but they didn’t ask the people chasing me for anything.” Ballestero says 10 police officers arrived on the scene. While a large group of onlookers gathered to watch the drama unfold, local fisherman William Flores took out a video camera and began filming. Police threatened to confiscate Flores’ camera. “Drying fins is not illegal, but we were checking on the sanitary conditions of the docks. I don’t think fins drying on the ground meets government health requirements,” Ballestero said. “Plus, we don’t even know if that dock is legal. It’s the first time we’ve seen fins there.” “Shark finning is a problem in Puntarenas and everyone can see that. It’s out in the open,” he said. … For PRETOMA President Randall Arauz, who escorted Ramsay to the private docks just days before the Hell’s Kitchen host was attacked, the assailants’ motivation in both cases is clear. Said Arauz: “The message is ‘don’t go anywhere near Puntarenas’ private docks with a camera or you’ll get your butt kicked.'”

[For more on the Costa Rica fishing mafia, see Sharkwater and SSCS.] Gang attacks Costa Rican environmentalist investigating illegal shark-finning claims