A Colombian judge has jailed four Costa Rican fishermen accused of the massacre of more than 2,000 sharks off the Pacific coast last year.
The men are charged with illegal fishing, illegitimately exploiting and damaging natural resources, and violating international borders to do so.
The slaughter of the sharks in Colombia’s Malpelo National Park, a UNESCO-protected area of the Pacific Ocean, drew condemnation last October.
The practise of shark fishing, whereby the fins are removed and the animals left to die slowly in the ocean, is forbidden under international law.
However the highly lucrative nature of the end product — shark fin soup can fetch almost $100 per bowl in a Hong Kong restaurant — means the illegal fishing continues.
Costa Rica and Colombia agreed last month to create a joint task force to tackle the issue.
