The Galápagos is the kind of place that should only exist in mythology books. It’s a paradise.
Here, ancient giant tortoises wander the shores.
Marine iguanas dive into the surf to scour the ocean floor for food.
And countless fish species tranform the ocean water into an explosion of colour.
It’s the birthplace of the theory of evolution – and the first stop for Greenpeace’s ship as it embarks on a tour of ocean sanctuaries around the world.
The amazing Galápagos Marine Reserve
We’re here to showcase the success of the Galápagos Marine Reserve – one of the best examples of ocean protection in action.
The Ecuadorian government created this protected area in 1998, and it’s teeming with marine life. Think giant whale sharks and green turtles; scalloped hammerhead sharks and playful fur seals.
But of course, these creatures don’t pay attention to the lines humans draw on maps. This area is part of an underwater superhighway that species use to migrate through the Galápagos region. And outside the marine reserve, the ocean remains open to destructive industrial fishing. This could have dire consequences for life within it.
This area lies between the national waters of Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama – and it urgently needs protection. These governments have already taken some steps to protect their coastal waters. Now they have a chance to protect this pocket of international waters, closing it off to industrial fishing fleets.