Galápagos Protected Area: To extend the reserve or not?
Better management of the oceans
César Peñaherrera, scientific coordinator of Migramar, says that there is a global situation and Ecuador agrees that the oceans are not a vast place. “The way to ensure food for humanity in the future requires better management of the oceans.”

Minister of the Environment in Vera A Su Manera
“Fishing is not bad, it should not be demonized. There are many species in the Galapagos system, the reserve has worked. We must expand the protected area because there are species that are at risk in open waters,” he mentioned.
He says that we must see a way to ensure our species for the future; part of the solution is to extend the reserve.
Sustainable fishing must be regulated
Bruno Leone, president of the Chamber of Fisheries, mentioned that the exploitation of marine resources must be in a sustainable way; this is that the resources of now, cannot affect the future reserves. “Sustainable fishing must be regulated.”
“The reserve has existed since 1998. Today, the problems in the Galapagos are worse than they were on that date. There is technology, we have to put satellite observers on all vessels,” he said.
It points out that the loss, if the protected zone comes into effect, would be $ 340 million of primary production; That, due to the productive chain of the industry, is more than $ 600 million per year.
An encounter where you don’t lose the fishing or the atmosphere
The US ambassador, Ivonne Baki, communicates that they have spoken of arriving at a meeting where they do not lose their fishing or the environment. “Fishing has generated many resources, more than $ 1000 million generated by tuna. But this jewel that is Galapagos. It must be taken care of.”
The head of Environment, Gustavo Manrique, says that this agreement goes much further than conservation and the fishing sector. “There are economic benefits such as preferential credit rates. Ecuador is a sovereign country; the role is dialogue.”
“There are 3 axes that must be analyzed, regardless that my main hat is the conservationist. As a government I must consider the fishing sector and small boats that refer to the social,” says the Minister of Environment.