Hundreds of protestors marched in the Costa Rican capital this month to oppose the export to Hong Kong of more than 1,200 kilograms (2,600 pounds) of hammerhead shark fins. Green groups say such exports violate Costa Rica’s international-treaty obligations and further imperil the world’s dwindling shark populations, while government officials contend that the export was legal. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, hammerhead shark populations have declined by more than 90% in the last 20 years. Conservation groups attribute much of the trend to the rise in popularity of the Chinese delicacy shark fin soup. Costa Rica, known for its sizable shark populations, has been a hub for shark fishing for decades. In recent years Costa Rica has issued new... [Log in to read more]