Costa Rican Policy on Shark Finning Overturned

The Constitutional Authority of Costa Rica has ruled that shark fins must be landed with their fins attached in natural form, overturning the policy of the National Fishery Institute (INCOPESCA), which had allowed shark fins to be landed tied on to shark bodies.

The Costa Rican Fishery Law, approved on April 25, 2005, prohibits shark finning and requires shark fins to be landed attached to bodies. However, INCOPESCA, decided in May, 2005 to define