Saving the Galápagos

Preserving marine life in the Pacific Ocean.

Ecuador and three other countries have announced a major initiative to protect marine life in an area of half a million square kilometers (200,000 sq. miles) of the Pacific Ocean.  The project interconnects and expands vast areas of some of the world's richest marine-life zones.

Ecuador, Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica have announced the initiative, which includes a major expansion of protected waters surrounding the Galápagos Islands (part of Ecuador).  The new zones are an effort at protecting sea life from fishing, including illegal fishing.

Source... The Guardian (UK) .. reprinted at www.cuencahighlife.com, with maps of current and projected marine-life sanctuary zones.

Galápagos tourism in an earlier era

got its start by offering visitors a good look

at spectacular flora and fauna.

In more recent times, hotels and AirBnB's

have proliferated as the archipelago has been

promoted as a beach and party destination.

Questions are being raised about whether

the ecological balance of these islands

will be badly compromised by the

beach-and-party crowd.

Proposals are being floated about potentially

raising the base fees, which are currently

$100 for foreigners, $6 for Ecuadorians.

Local business owners oppose higher fees.

A government official has weighed in.

If people are looking for a party time atmosphere

such as the French Riviera or coastal Florida,

"the Galápagos are not the place,"

says Niels Olsen, Ecuador's minister of tourism.

Souce... www.cuencahighlife.com

Well said, Neil Olsen!