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The marine research yacht, the Shark Water, will dock in the Pacific port of Puntarenas, Costa Rica at the tourist pier Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 10 a.m., and will be open to the public for viewing.
The 40-meter yacht was refitted to facilitate biological research of highly migratory sharks and other marine fauna in the Eastern Pacific, and is owned by the Colorado, United States-based non-profit Fins Attached Marine Research and Conservation.
“We invite the Costa Rican press and the general public to visit the Shark Water and learn more about our ambitious plans,” said an enthusiastic Alex Antoniou, director of Fins Attached. “We’ve collaborated for years with Cocos Island shark research activities, and we hope to be even more involved in research and in the effective conservation of this precious Costa Rican treasure as well.”
Fins Attached has worked for years to promote research in the Eastern Pacific in collaboration with international donors and local researchers. Their data has lent critical scientific information on highly migratory marine resource conservation and management policies to political forums across the region. With the recent acquisition of the Shark Water marine research station, Fins Attached hopes to increase its presence and collaboration among researchers in the area.
“One of the biggest obstacles that we have in Costa Rica for shark research, is that Cocos Island – the main shark site – is difficult to get to, let alone the high costs associated with diving expeditions and research equipment,” said Randall Arauz, political advisor for Fins Attached who has studied sharks at Cocos Island since 2005. “Now when we talk about creating ‘migratory pathways,’ not only between Eastern Pacific Islands but also between these islands and pupping areas in coastal zones, the Shark Water’s research will aid in successfully generating the information needed for developing such protection policies.”
Please confirm your attendance to the Shark Water viewing with: Randall Arauz, <[email protected]>, +506 8708 8253, or with Alex Antoniou, <[email protected]>, +1 719 499 9117.
