The Playa Hermosa – Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Central Pacific Conservation Area, located in the county of Garabito in Puntarenas 5km from Jaco beach town.

The local park rangers have reported an increase in the number of cases of sea turtles and crocodiles found trapped, the majority dead, in fishing nets in the waters or shore of the protected area.

“I have found 32 so far, the majority of them dead in the beach, today I found 1 which luckily was alive, a hawksbill sea turtle an endangered species, I was able to set it free; fishermen use the nets to trap lobsters and fish”, explained Arturo Rojas, park ranger of the refugee in an interview with local Channel 7.

Cases have increased since August, precisely when the nesting season is at a peak in this area.

The use of trammel nets is illegal within the waters of the National Refugee, some animals don’t survice and the fishing hooks used cause them injuries.

Yeimy Gamboa, biologist from the refugee stated “It is important that fishermen respect the nautical mile of the park, and that they use the authorized fishing methods and artifacts; also in the event that in waters far from the refugee a sea turtle gets stuck we ask not to cut it leaving the sea turtle trapped, they cannot free themselves, they are defenseless, so please free them from the net”.

Authorities at the Playa Hermosa – Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge are analyzing measures to properly address this situation.