But
it is now severely threatened...
Fishing within 40-miles of the Islands is illegal
under Ecuadorian law for all but artesenal fishermen
living in the Galapagos. However, foreign and Ecuadorian
fishing vessels regularly poach within the protected
areas, placing extreme pressure on the resources
of both the Galapagos National Park, the government
body responsible for enforcing the law, and the
Charles Darwin Research Station, whose vital monitoring
and research programmes help to identify the species
most at risk. The protection of this important archipelago
is the responsibility of the government of Ecuador.
However, the international community must also play
its part and support the government in its efforts
to ensure that the law is enforced and exploitation
stopped
Some
frequently asked questions:
Q. How many shark and ray species are there
in Galapagos?
A. 30 species of shark and 13 species of ray have
been recorded in Galapagos.
Q. What are the main threats?
A. Long-line and gillnet fishing, and climatic
change associated with global warming and
El Ninos.
Q. How many sharks are killed each year, and
for what purpose?
A. Shark fishing is illegal, and there are currently
no accurate records of numbers killed.
Most are caught for their fins only, but filleted
frames of shark have been found washed up on beaches
on Isabela, indicating that all meat was removed.
There are records of a particular catch that included
several hundred shark bodies.
Q. What is being done to prevent the exploitation
and killing of sharks in Galapagos?
A. The Galapagos National Park has increased patrolling
to better detect fisheries infringements, particularly
in offshore waters. Illegal catches are confiscated
and fines are imposed. Longline fishing is also
banned in GMR waters, pending further research
into bycatch. It is hoped to step up the inspection
of airfeight for shark fins.
With
your help, much more can be done!
TAKE
ACTION:
Buy
a 'Save the Galapagos Marine Reserve' poster.Your
purchase will help turn the tide to preserve this
world marine ecological wonder.
Your contribution will:
· Create, and outfit, a permanent floating
control station
· Support research and monitoring of shark
species most under threat from illegal fishing
· Support new shark research initiatives
at The Charles Darwin Research Station.
Click
here for order form
The
Galapagos Conservation Trust and The Shark
Trust would like to thank:
Tui
de Roy and Jonathan Green -
They have both spent many years photographing
wildlife in the Galapagos and have kindly
allowed us to use two of their best underwater
images to help us protect the Galapagos
marine reserve.
Julian and Lincoln Barnwell - both
passionate divers who run their own printing
company. They have donated the printing,
their time, resources, and expertise to
protect the Galapagos marine reserve.
All
profits from the sale of these pictures will be
equally divided between the Galapagos Conservation
Trust (Registered Charity No. 1043470), and The
Shark Trust (Reg charity No.1064185 )
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