Misión Tiburón

[1] The main aim of its marine education operations is to raise awareness within Costa Rica as well as globally of the importance of sharks in the oceans, the threats that they are facing and their sharp population decline.

It is the aim of its political and social advocacy area to use technical and scientific information as a tool for influencing civil society and public policy to promote the conservation of sharks and others marine species.

The scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) suffered global population decreases of 95% as a result of horrific “finning” practices, as well as accidental bycatch in long line fishing in pelagic waters.

Misión Tiburón’s data indicated that whilst adult sharks feed in the rich pelagic waters surrounding Cocos Island, they must migrate over 300 miles – along an underwater mountain range – to reach the mangrove coastal region of Golfo Dulce where females give birth to live young.

Misión Tiburón aims to collect such data using acoustic and satellite tagging programs, utilising their findings to promote conservation of the Bull Sharks by working with local communities and approaching the governmental sector.

[13] Misión Tiburón aims to help educate over 3,000 public-school students with the message of “Save the Hammerhead Shark”, with plans to construct a learning station in the port town of Golifto, situated in the Golfo Dulce region along the pacific coast.

By training the park rangers on how to obtain scientific data on the pelagic species through technical assistance, Misión Tiburón can collaborate with the research station on Cocos Island to help tackle illegal fishing.

[18] Through Misión Tiburón's efforts, in 2018 Golfo Dulce was nominated and assigned a " Hope Spot” following the regions recognition for being critical to the survival of the scalloped hammerhead shark species; in particular, the vulnerable juveniles and pups.