Galapagos Update
by Marc Miller, Greg Aplet & Matt James

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Please feel free to distribute all or part of the following report to other individuals or to post it to newsgroups on the internet. As always, we welcome additional reports and support.

The Galapagos Coalition is a group of biologists, other scientists, and lawyers with expertise in environmental and international law, many of whom have done research in the Galapagos and all of whom are interested in the understanding the relationship between the conservation of the Galapagos and human activities. Messages should be sent to Dr. Gregory Aplet, Dr. Matthew James, or Prof. Marc Miller at the addresses listed at the end of this communication

Summary of Topics

(1) March 20, 1995 Letter from Edgar Teran, Ambassador From Ecuador to the United States, to the Galapagos Coalition (2) Reports from the Galapagos -- Reports of the killing of tortoises and sea lions, and the establishment of large fishing camps on Fernandina -- Harassment of Macarena Green

(3) Outstanding Questions

(4) Next Steps

(1) Letter from Ambassador Teran

The full text of the March 20 letter and attachment sent by Ambassador Edgar Teran to the Galapagos Coalition follows:

Embajada Del Ecuador March 20, 1995
Washington, D.C.
Mr. Marc Miller
School of Law
Emory University

Dear Mr. Miller:

Thank you for your letter of February 14, regarding the concern of the "Galapagos Coalition" with the "ecological crisis" caused by the activities of the sea cucumber fisherman in the Galapagos.

I can assure you and the "Galapagos Coalition" that the Government of Ecuador has taken the necessary steps to assure that the ecology of the Galapagos Island is not altered in any way. A full evaluation is being conducted of the ecological impact caused by the fishing of the sea cucumbers in Galapagos. Likewise a ban on sea cucumber fishing has been imposed and all efforts are being made by the proper authorities to enforce that ban in the Marine Reserve of the Galapagos.

Likewise, the Permanent Commission of Galapagos, aware of the negative impact that the fishing of sea cucumbers has caused in the international community, will be very tactful with future steps.

Please find enclosed a document of the Presidential Environmental Advisory Commission on the Ecuadorian policy, since 1988, regarding fishing of sea cucumbers in the Galapagos.

Sincerely yours,
s/
Edgar Teran
Ambassador
Statement Attached to the letter from Ambassador Teran:
The Fishing of Sea Cucumbers In Galapagos
The fishing of the sea cucumbers in the Galapagos Islands is not a traditional activity. It started in 1988. The Ecuadorian Government recognizing the fast depredation of the sea cucumber, the alternation of ecological cycles, and because of the lack of sufficient information on the biology of the sea cucumber and its role in the biological food chain, imposed a ban on sea cucumber harvesting in 1992. The fishing of sea cucumbers is mainly promoted from the continent, it uses boats and workers rented and hired locally. Nevertheless, the production is not destined for local or national consumption, but to external Asian markets, where the demand is the greatest. In the last three years the harvesting of sea cucumbers has been done in a clandestine and illegal manner, and has been promoted by entrepreneurs from the continental Ecuador and by traders with ties to the Asian markets.

With Executive Decree 1731, published in Official Register 436, of May 9, 1994, the President of Ecuador established the policy to regulate activities of the Galapagos, among them, the ones related to fishing activity in the Galapagos. That same Decree e stablished the areas of responsibilities in relation to the Reserve of Marine Resources of Galapagos and designated the institutions in charge of the surveillance by air and sea of the maritime reserve. Accordingly, the Institute for Forestry and Natural Areas (INEFAN), and the Ministries of Defense, Commerce, Tourism were entrusted with the control of the maritime reserve of an approximate extension of 70,000 square kilometers.

In June 1994, the National Council for Fishery Development authorized on a trail base sea cucumber fishing from October 16, 1994 to January 15, 1995, limited the harvest to 0.5% of the proven resources, according to the survey made by the National Fisher y Institute in 1993. In other words, the limit of 550,000 sea cucumbers was establish[ed] for the three month period. This authorization was to be followed by an assessment to be carried [out] by the Undersecretary of Fishery Resources, the National Institute of Fisheries and other specialized agencies, was to determine the convenience of authorizing the fishing of sea cucumbers and under what circumstances.

In September 1994, in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, a workshop with the participation of representatives of Galapagos took place, in order to revise the Management Plan of the Marine Resources Reserve of Galapagos, approved by Executive Decree 3573, published in Official Register 994, of August 6, 1992, and to examine its application and enforcement.

On September 27, 1994, communication DP-00004-94, the President of Ecuador informed his State Ministers and appropriate Institutions of his decision to extend the Marine Reserve of Galapagos to an extension of 40 nautical miles from the base lines of the Islands, and instruct the[m] to establish policies to maintain the ban on fishing activity inside the marine reserve, with exception of the activities carried on by artisan fisherman resident in Galapagos. The President also instructed that Laws, bylaw a nd all normative in force be fully observed, in order to achieve an adequate management of Galapagos.

Unfortunately, during the trial fishing period established from October 1994, massive harvesting of the sea cucumber took place due to the high prices for the product in foreign markets, especially asian. This caused uncontrolled and extensive fishing that exceeded by far the limit established originally This lead to the decision taken by the Undersecretary for Fisheries, by Ministerial Accord No. 123, of December 12, 1994, to ban fishing of sea cucumbers starting on December 15, 1994, and the transport ation of the processed product by December 20, 1994.

Up to this date, March 1994, the assessment called in the Council of Fishery Development's resolution of June 1994, is being carried on and its conclusions and recommendations will deal with the ban on sea cucumbers.

Ecuador and specifically the Permanent Commission on the Galapagos Islands, is conscious of the grave and negative impact that the news about the fishing of the sea cucumber in Galapagos has caused worldwide and will bear that in mind in the future steps to be taken.

(2) Reports from the Galapagos

A steady stream of reports from people who have spent time in the Galapagos since January of this year suggest that the situation remains unstable. Reports consistently describe:

-- continuing harm to tortoises and sea lions

-- no final resolution by the Ecuadorian government whether and to what extent sea cucumber fishing will be allowed in the future

-- other issues of commercial or quasi-commercial marine activities including harvesting of shark fins

-- the isolation, sustained verbal (but not physical) attack, and lack of resources at the Darwin Station.

One of the more recent and detailed reports comes from a March 27, 1995 fax from Macarena and Jonathan Green to Matt James. Their report follows:

Update on the illegal fishing activities in the Galapagos Islands,
March 24th 1995. By Jonathan R. Green.
In mid February 1995 a check was made by me personally of a previously established sea cucumber processing camp, situated in the mangroves at the northern end of the beach of a visitor site known as Punta Tortuga, on the western coast of Isabela Island. A 50 gallon drum, for cooking the cucumbers had been set up and dead mangrove wood lay chopped and strewn around the drum for firewood. There was no sign of anyone around the camp, but some of the mangroves appeared freshly cut.

On Monday 13th of March I returned to the site to find brand new "cooking" equipment, a rectangular steel tub, approximately 8 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep had been set up along side the drum. Judging by the piles of ash under the tub this equip ment had already been used several ties. More mangroves had been cut around the clearing and along the beach. The area was strewn with plastic rubbish and introduced tomato seedlings were growing around the edges of the clearing (presumably the areas used by the cucumber fishermen as a bathroom!) What this "camp" clearly indicates is that: 1. Quantities of sea cucumbers are continuously being harvested and processed, despite the ban on this form of "fishing".

2. New species are being introduced into this almost pristine environment. 3. This small stand of mangroves which represents one of the most important habitats for the extremely rare and endemic Mangrove finch, Camarhynchus heliobates, is being destroyed.

Equally alarming was the discovery on Saturday the 11th March of a dead adult male sea lion on the shore of Punta Moreno, visitor site on the south western coast of Isabela Island, that appears to have had its penis cut off. Due to the state or decomposi tion it would be impossible to state categorically that this is what happened, but I made as close as possible examination of the sea lion and the penis was certainly missing. The area around the penis having been opened by someone, or something. The phot ographs I took show this fairly clearly. For a period of time the "rumors" are that each penis can be sold for around S/. 300,000 about $120 US each one in San Cristóbal. I have asked other guides to be on the look out for further evidence, especially around the less frequented areas of Galapagos. Also slightly disturbing is the recent "disappearance" of practically the entire sea lion colony, from Punta Espinosa, visitor site, on Fernandina Island. This however could be due to natural causes.

* Harassment of Macarena Green [Note from Galapagos Coalition]

Macarena Green, a biologist, naturalist and tour guide from Quito, who first alerted the international community to the sea cucumber crisis, and (evidenced by the update included with the transmission) continues to provide basic information about the situation in the Galapagos. For serving this essentially informational role, she appears to have earned the enmity of the fisherman and perhaps others in the Galapagos.

Each of us, acting individually and collectively, should be careful to distinguish between the positions (often tough positions) that we recommend, and the basic provision of information from others, including Macarena and Jonathan Green. We should all speak firmly against the harassment of those whose first goal is to keep others informed.

(3) Some Outstanding Questions

* What is the ecology of sea cucumber fishing in the Galapagos?
Very little appears to be known about the ecology of sea cucumbers in the Galapagos. Some information was offered at a short seminar at the Smithsonian in mid April, Marine Biologist David Pawson explained that sea cucumbers are the "earthworms of the se a." They feed on detritus and turn over the sea floor much as earthworms do on land. Like earthworms in terrestrial systems, sea cucumbers often make up 90% of the animal biomass in marine systems. There are 15 species in the Galapagos, but only Isosti chopus fuscus is being harvested. Sea cucumbers are easily fished out and populations likely take decades to recover.

Pawson recounted e-mail from a biologist who reported that, in over 100 hours of diving in the vicinity of the fishing, they had seen no juveniles; there is no evidence of replacement; and they found declining populations everywhere. The biologist also r eported intense poaching and evidence of land camps, confirming the reports from the Greens and others.

* How should the impact of the sea cucumber fishery in the Galapagos be tracked? * What countries and / or companies are financing the processing ships? * Will additional sea cucumber fishing be allowed? * Will other commercial activities be allowed? * Is there an alternative, non-harmful commercial use for the fishing boats? * How much would it cost to buy the boats of the fisherman who have moved to Galapagos, and resell the boats in a coastal market? Would the government be willing to ban new fishing boats in the Galapagos?

(4) Next Steps

* Additional Reports: Investigations

Information continues to be incomplete about the situation in the Galapagos. It would be good for the encouragement and development of wise policy to develop far more and better information about the ecology of the Galapagos sea cucumber fishery, and on other sea cucumber fishers; the pepineros; countries and companies that fund the harvest; possible avenues for shifting boats and commercial activities back to the mainland; the views of the government and private organizations in Ecuador; the role of th e park service; and ways to support the Darwin Station and its researchers. * Supportive Letters to Ambassador Teran
We encourage individual letters to Ambassador Teran and to officials in Ecuador emphasizing the interest and concern over the sea cucumber fishery, and supporting principled positions. We believe that continuing thoughtful and well-informed commentary c an have a positive impact on the situation in the Galapagos. Ambassador Teran's Address is:

Ambassador Edgar Teran
Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador
2535 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009

The address for the President of Ecuador is:
Arq. Sixto Duran Ballen Presidente Constitucional de la Republica de Ecuador Palacia de Gobierna Quito, ECUADOR

The address for the US Department of State is: Hon. Warren Christopher
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dr. Gregory H. Aplet
The Wilderness Society
900 Seventeenth St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Ph: (202) 429-2684
Fax: (202) 429-3959
Greg_Aplet_at_TWSPO1@tws.org

Prof. Marc Miller
Emory Law School
1301 Clifton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
Ph: (404) 727-6528
Fax: (404) 727-6951
mmiller@law.emory.edu

Dr. Matthew J. James
Department of Geology
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, California 94928
Ph: (707) 664-2301
Fax: (707) 664-2505 or 664-3012
Email: matt.james@sonoma.edu

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