The Sala IV constitutional court has ordered the immediate closing of private docks where shark fishermen have been unloading their catch for years.

The court’s decision was reported by the Programa Restauración de Tortugas Marinas, which filed a case in 2004.

The court said that the customs law requires that all foreign flag vessels at first discharge their cargo at public docks. The court said this was to protect the public interest.

The court further said that three public agencies had abdicated their constitutional duties, permitted shark species to be put in grave danger through irrational exploitation. The agencies are the Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Acuacultura, the Departamento de Aduanas and the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transporte, said the environmental organization.

Although not a party to the action, the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía, the environmental ministry, also was ordered to guarantee the compliance with the law on the private docks.

The Programa Restauración de Tortugas Marinas said that the court resolved the case in February but that the agencies chose to ignore the decision until they were notified formally, which took place this month.

Private docks in Puntarenas have been used since 1998 for shark fishermen to off-load the fins they catch. There have been repeated protests from the environmental community. But the situation is tied up with Costa Rica’s relationship with Asian governments. Shark fin soup is much in demand in Asia, and Costa Rica has accepted many grants from Asian countries, principally Taiwan.

The Programa Restauración de Tortugas Marinas said that the public agencies also reply that there are no public facilities suitable for the unloading of sharks and shark fins.

But the environmental organization said that a perfect facility exists in Golfito.