Empowering Communities To Protect and Restore the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Sanctuary Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
Project Leader
In Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, Mision Tiburon is restoring vital mangrove ecosystems that serve as nursery grounds for endangered shark species. This initiative not only protects biodiversity but also empowers local communities, especially women, youth, and fishers, through inclusive conservation and sustainable resource use.
Golfo Dulce: A Safe Haven for Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
In 2010, Mision Tiburon started a research project in Golfo Dulce (South Pacific of Costa Rica) to identify essential habitats for the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini. Based on Mision Tiburon’s scientific results, in May 2018 the Government of Costa Rica declared the Hammerhead Shark Sanctuary in Golfo Dulce to protect the wetland ecosystems used as nursery grounds for S. lewini. The HSS represents a new model of governance for Costa Rica, enabling community participation in the protection of coastal ecosystems. Misión Tiburón has strengthened the HSS by engaging stakeholders in shark conservation and empowering local leaders.
PROJECT LEADER
Ilena Zanella & Andres Lopez
Marine biologists and co-founders of Mision Tiburon, Ilena Zanella and Andres Lopez run a Costa Rica–based NGO dedicated to shark and marine conservation. With over 20 years of experience, they focus on scientific research, habitat protection, and environmental education.
Ilena is a member of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and a fellow of the Ocean Leaders Program. Andres leads community-driven projects that bridge science, policy, and local engagement.
Their work has shaped national and international conservation policies, including CITES and IUCN listings.
Together, they turn science into action to protect marine ecosystems.
Restoring Mangroves, Protecting Sharks: A Community-Based Approach
One of the wetland ecosystems in Golfo Dulce is the mangrove ecosystem, which provides multiple ecosystem services—including carbon storage, food, protection, and biodiversity—that benefit local communities. The HSS encompasses approximately 16,000 hectares, with over 3,000 hectares comprised of mangrove ecosystems that serve as nurseries for numerous marine species, including threatened shark species and their prey.
According to the IUCN Red List, five critically endangered shark species have been recorded in Golfo Dulce (Sphyrna lewini, Sphyrna mokarran, Sphyrna media, Sphyrna corona, and Carcharhinus cerdale), two endangered species (Ginglymostoma unami, Rhincodon typus), and two vulnerable species (Rhizoprionodon longurio, Carcharhinus limbatus).
Mangrove ecosystems are among the most valuable coastal ecosystems globally, yet they are also among the most vulnerable. Given these circumstances, this project aims to restore the Sanctuary’s mangrove ecosystems, which serve as essential habitats for threatened shark species and their prey, while promoting the inclusion of vulnerable groups (women, fishers, youth) in society. This initiative offers a holistic solution to climate change and biodiversity loss, preparing communities to develop capacities for the sustainable use of nature.
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