Biological Marine Corridor of Osa Hope Spot
Described by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on Earth”, Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula is home to creatures big and small, from breaching humpback whales to brightly colored nudibranchs.
Zoom in and out on the map to get a closer look at the Hope Spot!
The waters surrounding the peninsula are home to biologically imporant ecoystems including the coral reefs of Caño Island, mangrove forests and wetlands. With four marine protected areas (MPAs) in the area, Innoceana, the Hope Spot Champions, hope for a new MPA that would encompass the entire area and protect the local marine life threatened by industrial fishing and extraction industries.
Dr. Sylvia Earle Celebrates the launch of the Biological Marine Corridor of Osa Hope Spot
Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue says, “Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula is widely recognized as one of the most biologically intense areas in the world. The biological marine corridor adjacent to the Osa Peninsula seems like a logical place to safeguard the amazing diversity of life that prospers there.”
The adjacent waters of Osa were proposed in 2016 as the MPA, “Reserva Marina Alvaro Ugalde Viquez” but it was denied. Today, Hope Spot Champions Laura, Yulian and Carlos are working alongside other organizations and the greater community to seek effective protection of these waters.
Innoceana working at Caño Island (c) Carlos Mallo
Carlos Mallo elaborates on the abundant life within the peninsula, “From the rainforest of Corcovado or the wetlands of Sierpe, to the shallow coral reef of Caño Island up to the deep waters of Osa Peninsula, there is not a centimeter of space without life.”
Sea slug (Elysia diomedea) at Caño Island (c) Laura Vanopdenbosch
Cordero, Mallo and Vanopdenbosch are also inviting the public Mission Blue community to a virtual screening of their new short documentary, Entangled in Costa Rica , on December 9th, 2021.
The short film tells the story of a group of people who rescued two Humpback whales from entanglement in fishing lines. Fishing lines are discarded or abandoned fishing lines that float through the ocean, entangling marine life in its path. Their goal is to fundraise for the Entangled in Costa Rica campaign to allow the creation of a specialized rescue squad in the area, the continuance of important research, and more.
Just as land animals don’t stay in one place, marine life doesn’t either. There are currently four MPAs in the area, including The National Park Marino Ballena (below), The Biological Reserve Caño Island, The National Wetland Terraba-Sierpe, and The Corcovado National Park.
Marino Ballena (c) Carlos Mallo
However, these MPAs don’t currently touch, leaving migrating marine life vulnerable between the gaps.
Carlos Mallo Molina, President of Innoceana and Hope Spot Champion explains, “If we want to establish effective protection for the marine life that migrate through Costa Rica’s waters, we need to apply thorough protection across the entire area.”
The Hope Spot Champions hope that an expanded MPA can help to mitigate the effects of climate change. Yulian Cordero Sanchez, local naturalist guide and Hope Spot Champion describes, “With a protected marine area, a healthy ecosystem can be restored.
Crab (Trapezia sp) at Caño Island (c) Laura Vanopdenbosc
Abundant phytoplankton and cetaceans, healthy mangroves and coral reefs all store huge amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and are important to decrease the effects of climate change.” Sanchez is also co-leading the creation and opening of the first Marine Conservation Center in Costa Rica’s South Pacific.
Leptogorgia alba and Caulerpa at Caño Island (c) Laura Vanopdenbosch
The Marine Conservation and Education Center Innoceana (MCECinnoceana) will be officially launched early 2022 and will serve as the main base for organizations, local communities, universities, tourists and other collectives to work together in marine conservation.
“Restoring the marine ecosystem of the Osa Peninsula will enrich the local community economically, physically and mentally”, explains Mallo. He elaborates, “Artisanal fishermen will be in a better place thanks to a healthy coral reef and mangroves. With the prohibition of industrial fishing, dive sites will be more attractive, strengthening the local ecotourism industry. It would mean a win-win for all life here, including for humans.”
Innoceana's Work at the Biological Marine Corridor of Osa Hope Spot, Costa Rica
About Innoceana
Innoceana is an international marine conservation organization with a team of engineers, biologists and naturalists of different disciplines. Our main goal is to preserve the Ocean using innovation and low-cost technology while inspiring and educating the next generations.
