A Taiwanese fishing vessel last Saturday night unloaded 30 tons of shark fins at the central Pacific port of Puntarenas, violating a February 2001 fishing regulation that makes it illegal to cut a shark's fin off and throw the carcass back into the ocean.

According to a press release from the Costa Rican Sea Turtle Restoration Project's (PRETOMA's) Shark Campaign, the Taiwanese-registered "GRUIDA U RUEY 1" unloaded its contraband at 9 p.m., when no port inspectors were on duty.

However, the illegal operation was witnessed by Costa Rican Coast Guard personnel, who had no authority to intervene, but reported the incident to environmentalists.

When port inspectors returned to duty the morning of Monday, June 2, the Taiwanese vessel reportedly tried to unload its legal cargo, which was still in the ship's hold. Environmental groups, however, convinced the Costa Rican Fishery Institute (INCOPESCA) to prohibit the vessel from docking and ordered an investigation.

"This massive landing of shark fins is simply irresponsible and unsustainable," said an alarmed Irene Boza, coordinator of PRETOMA's Shark Campaign. "Since shark fins make up only 5% of a shark's body weight, we estimate that over 30,000 sharks were killed and finned by this vessel alone on this single fishing expedition."

"The ease with which foreign vessels violate Costa Rican finning regulations is appalling," said Randall Arauz, President of PRETOMA. "Simply put, to avoid Costa Rican law, vessels know all they must do is unload their illegal contraband on Saturdays or Sundays, or in the evenings when INCOPESCA inspectors are off-duty. Then, when inspectors are on duty, they land the rest of their catch legally and act as if they are playing by the rules."

According to Arauz, the fins were cut off silky, hammerhead, black tip, thresher and bull sharks.