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Published on Wednesday, May 24, 2023
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The collection of seashells on the beaches is one of the problems that the country's coastal ecosystems face daily. It has gone almost unnoticed for decades.
According to data from the National System of Conservation Areas (Sinac), the organization in charge of managing the country's national parks, since 2021 four tons of shells have been seized from tourists.
The seizures were made mainly at immigration checkpoints at the Juan Santamarķa International Airport (SJO) located in Alajuela Province.
Of this figure, one ton was seized by immigration officials in 2021. And by last year the figure had risen to three tons.
In Costa Rica, the extraction of seashells, corals, wild plants, or even small animals such as insects is considered illegal wildlife trafficking.
Shells and coral provide calcium that allows ecosystems to be kept stable and provide nutrients for some animals and plants.
In addition, the shells help control beach erosion and allow some algae, plants, marine sponges, and other species that live attached to them.
The shells are also used as a refuge for some marine species, especially the spiral-shaped shells, essential for hermit crabs.
The
shells, stones and corals, among
others, provide good material for
the nests of seabirds. Also, many
fish use them for shelter or
camouflage to mislead predators. The
increase in tourism and the increase
in shell seizures is directly
related, authorities said. The lack
of shells on beaches causes damage
such as multiple environmental
changes, increased beach erosion,
changes in the recycling of calcium,
decrease in biodiversity and
organisms, among many other negative
effects. Wild
flora and fauna are protected by
Wildlife Conservation Law No. 7317.
Those found guilty of keeping flora,
fauna, funga and other forms of life
including shells, corals, plants,
and wild animals as many others,
will be fined between $1,400 and
$2,800. In the case of wild animals
in danger of extinction or with
small populations, these fines could
be higher. Additionally,
the law establishes that any person
who is found responsible for
committing an environmental or
wildlife crime could face a prison
sentence of one year. One of
the biggest problems that threaten
wildlife in the country is the
illegal extraction of species from
their natural habitat to traffick
them or keep them as souvenirs or
pets. Recently,
a man of New Zealand nationality
was detained by the police at the
SJO airport on suspicion of
wildlife trafficking. In
a detailed inspection of the man's
luggage, officers found several
containers and plastic bags
containing various marine species.
Among these were seashells and live
marine mollusks. Authorities
urge tourists not to remove
seashells, stones, corals or any
type of wild plant or animal from
public zones. In addition to
reporting to line 2522-6500 any
suspicion of people removing any of
these marine products. -------------------- Professional's services and business U.S. Income
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