An administrative court in Costa Rica issued an emergency ruling on September 18, 2025, halting the export of several shark species, including thresher sharks and the silky shark. The decision came in response to a petition by environmental lawyer Walter Brenes Soto, who has been advocating for the protection of marine wildlife for years.
Comprehensive export ban as a precautionary measure
The decision applies to 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 grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
The court stated that there is a direct connection between the requested protective measure and the main claim in the proceedings. Only by immediately suspending exports can the effectiveness of a future ruling be ensured.
“A great victory for marine wildlife”
Walter Brenes Soto, who already won a ban on catching and bycatch of hammerhead sharks in 2021, welcomed the decision as a milestone:
“It is a great victory for marine biodiversity in Costa Rica. This decision once again shows that our justice system is strong and understands the fundamental principles of environmental law.”
The lawyer emphasized that the message should also have an impact beyond the country’s borders. Costa Rica is sending a clear signal for the protection of its biodiversity.
Next steps in the proceedings
The plaintiff now has 15 working days to file the formal complaint. The defendant authorities – including the national conservation system Sinac and the Fisheries Institute Incopesca – can submit their statements and evidence within three days.
