Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Turtles targeted

Thousands of endangered green turtles, which receive the highest protection in Costa Rica and neighbouring countries, are being killed by unregulated and unsustainable commercial fishing operations in Nicaragua, according to a new study.

The study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in the US found that turtles tagged in Nicaragua, including those from a world famous turtle-nesting beach in Costa Rica, have less than 50 per cent of surviving until the next year.

WCS said although the species is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, an estimated 11,000 green sea turtles are killed each year in Nicaragua.

Source: www.divemagazine.co.uk