Misión Tiburón
FounderIlena Zanella, Andres Lopez
Founded atCosta Rica
TypeConservation association
Purpose
HeadquartersGuanacaste, Costa Rica

Misión Tiburón is a non profit organisation established in 2009, based on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Founded by marine biologists and conservationists Ilena Zanella and Andres Lopez, the organisation focuses on marine research concerning sharks, sea turtles and rays as well as education programs targeted at local coastal communities.[1]

Operations

Misión Tiburón has its operations center in Guanacaste Province, in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. Since 2019, Misión Tiburón also carries out regular shark tagging operations from Golfito, in southern Costa Rica. The organisation focuses its efforts on three main areas: marine education, marine research and political and social advocacy.[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. The scientific marine research area focuses on sharks and other marine species in order to determine management strategies, hence promote their conservation and responsible use. 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.

Notable initiatives and programs

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Project

Hammerhead shark, Cocos Island, Costa Rica

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.[2] Juveniles, despite having too small fins, are still kept and used as bait for larger sharks.[3] The scalloped hammerhead is one of the sharks most affected by such practises, and according to IUCN Red List is endangered; being a highly migratory species, it is very vulnerable, as conservation efforts have to take place across many nations.[4] In Costa Rica, the traditional dish ceviche incorporates Hammerhead shark meat, contributing to the decline of these vulnerable populations.[5] Following empirical observations in the waters surrounding Cocos Island off the pacific coast of Costa Rica, it was found that populations of adult scalloped hammerhead sharks declined by 45% despite Cocos Island being a protected national park.[6] Misión Tiburón collected scientific data using satellite telemetry and acoustic telemetry shark tagging methods[7] providing evidence, from a high abundance of juveniles, that the coastal waters in Golfo Dulce were critical to the scalloped hammerhead’s survival. 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. The pups then remain in the sheltered root system, thriving off rich nutrient waters and benefiting from the protection by avoiding predators.[8] As a result of Misión Tiburón’s work, the coastal regions of Golfo Dulce were assigned as the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Sanctuary by the government of Costa Rica: this marked the first shark sanctuary in Costa Rica as well as the first shark sanctuary in the world focused on protecting juvenile sharks.[9] The protected area covers over 10,000 acres of habitat in the Golfo Dulce region.[10]

Illena Zanella with a juvenile scalloped hammerhead shark in Golfo Dulce

Whitetip Shark Project

The whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) gains its name from the unmissable white tipped dorsal and caudal fins, inhabiting global tropical coastal waters as well as coral reefs. The Whitetip shark populations are threatened by multiple human activities including fishing; in Costa Rica, Misión Tiburón is focusing on conserving these sharks through tagging programs to track their populations, of which little is currently known. The program focuses around Cocos Island National Park and other hot spots off the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.[11]

Bull Shark Project

The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is a migratory species distributed globally – in mostly warm, shallow waters such as rivers and estuaries, being fresh or salt water. Juvenile sharks require the protection of mangrove coastal regions, such as Potrero Grande Mangrove and Punta Respingue Mangrove in Costa Rica, to thrive. These important habitats and populations lack scientific data, which could aid in the conservation of this species vulnerable to fisheries. 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.[12]

Marine Education

Misión Tiburón recognises that conservation involves education, their motto being “conocer para proteger”; as part of their work to conserve the scalloped hammerhead shark, they run educational activities in local coastal communities as well as participatory workshops with local fishermen operating in the Golfo Dulce region. By communicating with such fisheries, they can prevent mortality rates of juvenile hammerhead sharks. “Shark Route” is another scheme that focuses on educating elementary aged students about marine resources and the importance of the sharks’ role in aquatic ecosystems, as well as their vulnerability to human activity.[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.[14]

Cocos Island's Training Program for Rangers

Cocos Island Costa Rica

Cocos Island National Park is a marine life hotspot, hosting a variety of biodiversity, 530km from mainland Costa Rica in the Pacific ocean. There are no permanent residents inhabiting the Island apart from park rangers, visiting scientists and tourists on day trips.[15] Misión Tiburón is working with the rangers, conserving the island through education of new biological skills. 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.[16]

Awards, Sponsors and support

Misión Tiburón signed a Cooperation Agreement with the National System of Conservation in March 2010, formalising an alliance with Cocos Island Marine Conservation Area (ACMIC) allowing collaboration of education and technical training.[17] Misión Tiburón also worked with the Rainforest Trust for the establishment of the juvenile shark sanctuary in Golfo Dulce.[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. Misión Tiburón is thus supported by the global organisation Mission Blue, a charity created by the oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle.[19] After being presented with the Whitley Award in 2019,[20] Ilena Zanella secured £40,000[21] of funding for one year and her organisation Misión Tiburón gained support from the Whitley Fund for Nature. This UK-registered charity, established in 1993, supports conservational organisation globally with funding and by helping to raise awareness, through social media.[22]

In the media

As part of the Whitley Award recognition to Ilena Zanella in 2019, a short film of Misión Tiburón’s work was released,[23] narrated by Sir David Attenborough.[24] In July 2020, Ilena Zanella was interviewed by Kate on Conservation[25] and the article was published in National Geographic Kids Ocean Special issue.

Several other articles on Misión Tiburón and its founders Ilena and Andres have been published nationally and internationally:

References

  1. 1 2 "Mision Tiburon – Mision Tiburon Costa Rica". Archived from the original on 2019-08-31. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  2. ↑ Ocean Sentry (2018, January 27) Scalloped hammerhead shark. Retrieved from http://www.oceansentry.org/ Archived 2019-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (2019, September 10)
  3. ↑ Mission Blue (2019, February 4). HOPE SPOT DECLARED AT GOLFO DULCE, COSTA RICA IN SUPPORT OF NURSERY FOR ENDANGERED SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD SHARKS. Retrieved from https://mission-blue.org/(2019, September 10)
  4. ↑ Baum, J.; Clarke, S.; Domingo, A.; Ducrocq, M.; Lamónaca, A.F.; Gaibor, N.; Jorgensen, S.; Graham, R.; Kotas, J.E.; Medina, E.; Martinez-Ortiz, J.; Monzini Taccone di Sitizano, J; Morales, M.R.; Navarro, S.S.; Pérez-Jiménez, J.C.; Ruiz, C.; Smith, W.; Valenti, S.V. & Vooren, C.M. (2009). "Sphyrna lewini.". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2009: e.T39385A10190088. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T39385A10190088.en. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  5. ↑ Briggs, Helen (June 17, 2019). "One woman's mission to protect hammerhead shark". BBC News. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Mission Shark Documentaries: Golfo Dulce and the Hammerhead shark" – via Youtube.com.
  7. ↑ "Mission Shark Documentaries: Golfo Dulce and the Hammerhead shark" – via www.youtube.com.
  8. ↑ "Hammerhead Shark Conservation". Misión Tiburón. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  9. ↑ "Strengthened sanctuary for the scalloped hammerhead shark". Whitley Fund for Nature. 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Lemelin, Madison (May 22, 2019). "Two Rainforest Trust Partners Win Whitley Awards". Rainforest Trust. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019. '10,000 acres of habitat necessary for the Scalloped Hammerhead and other species in Golfo Dulce's rich array of biodiversity. '
  11. ↑ "The Whitetip Project". Misión Tiburón. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  12. ↑ "The Bull Shark Project". Misión Tiburón. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "Save The Hammerhead Shark". Misión Tiburón. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  14. ↑ Sandoval, Sandy (11 October 2018). "Misión Tiburón: The husband and wife team protecting sharks in Costa Rica". Tico Times. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018. Misión Tiburón plans to implement a learning station in the southern Pacific port of Golfito, which is geographically close to Golfo Dulce's hammerhead shark sanctuary. The organization expects to reach about 3,000 public-school students with its message.
  15. ↑ "Protection and management requirements". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019. 'Today the human presence is restricted to a rotating group of conservation staff, tourists, and visiting scientists'
  16. ↑ "Our Partners". Misión Tiburón. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019. Cocos Island Marine Conservation Area Since the beginning, has Mision Tiburon encouraged a close relationship with the Cocos Island Marine Conservation Area (ACMIC) to collaborate on education, research and training.
  17. ↑ "Our Partners". Misión Tiburón. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019. 'Mision Tiburon encouraged a close relationship with the Cocos Island Marine Conservation Area (ACMIC) to collaborate on education, research and training. As result of this alliance, in March 2010, Misión Tiburón, in order to formalize their relationship with ACMIC, signed a Cooperation Agreement with the National System of Conservation.'
  18. ↑ Lemelin, Madison (30 August 2019). "International Whale Shark Day: Aggregation in Gulfo Dulce's Shark Sanctuary". Rainforest Trust. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019. In May 2018, we worked with our local partner Misión Tiburón to safeguard a portion of the unique Golfo Dulce ecosystem, one of only four tropical fjords in the world.
  19. ↑ "HOPE SPOT DECLARED AT GOLFO DULCE, COSTA RICA IN SUPPORT OF NURSERY FOR ENDANGERED SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD SHARKS". Mission Blue. 4 February 2019. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  20. ↑ "Environmental heroes: the 2019 Whitley Award winners". The Guardian. May 21, 2019. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
  21. ↑ "The Whitley Awards 2019". Whitley Fund for Nature. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019. benefit thanks to the 2019 Whitley Awards, each worth £40,000 in project funding. The prize is accompanied by a significant boost in profile, helping winners to leverage new connections and further funding.
  22. ↑ "STRENGTHENED SANCTUARY FOR THE SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD SHARK". Whitley Fund For Nature. 2019. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  23. ↑ "Ilena Zanella, Costa Rica – Whitley Awards 2019". Archived from the original on 2019-08-24. Retrieved 2019-09-13 – via www.youtube.com.
  24. ↑ "STRENGTHENED SANCTUARY FOR THE SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD SHARK". Whitley Fund for Nature. 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  25. ↑ "National Geographic Kids meets shark hero Ilena Zanella". www.kateonconservation.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
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