An administrative court in Costa Rica stopped the export of several shark species on 18 September 2025 by interim order, including thresher sharks and the silky shark. The court responded to an application by environmental lawyer Walter Brenes Soto, who has been fighting for years for the protection of marine fauna.
Comprehensive export ban as a precautionary measure
The decision affects both animals and products from the following species:
Pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus), common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus), bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus), silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), and the grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
The court stated that there was a direct connection between the requested protective measure and the main claim in the proceedings. Only by immediately suspending exports could the effectiveness of a future judgement be ensured.
“A major victory for marine fauna”
Walter Brenes Soto, who already secured a ban on catching and bycatching hammerhead sharks in 2021, welcomed the decision as a milestone:
“This is a major victory for marine biodiversity in Costa Rica. This decision once again shows that our judicial system is strong and understands the fundamental principles of environmental law.”
The lawyer emphasised that the message should also resonate beyond the country’s borders. Costa Rica is thus sending a clear signal for the protection of its biodiversity.
Next steps in the proceedings
The claimant now has 15 working days to file the formal claim. The defendant authorities, including the national conservation system Sinac and the fisheries institute Incopesca, can submit their statements and evidence within three days.
