60,000 square kilometers (km2) are added to the existing reserves of the archipelago, going from 138,000 km2 to 198,000 km2 protected.
On January 14, 2022 from Galapagos, Executive Decree No. 319 formalizing the historic decision to declare the new ''Hermandad'' Marine Reserve in the Enchanted Islands was signed.
The President of the Republic of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, on January 14, 2022, signed the decree creating the new Galapagos Marine Reserve ''Hermandad''. This new protected area adds 60,000 square kilometers to the Galapagos marine protection zone, 30,000 where no fishing activity will be allowed and 30,000 where longlining will not be allowed.
The Reserve is located northeast of the archipelago and protects the biological corridor that exists between the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, Cocos Island in Costa Rica and other oceanic islands of neighboring countries such as Coiba in Panama and Malpelo in Colombia, which are part of the Marine Corridor. of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Species such as sea turtles, manta rays, whales and sharks transit through this space during their migratory routes.
The Hermandad Reserve will generate important benefits for the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and the world; In addition to strengthening coastal marine conservation, it will mitigate the impacts of climate change through a consequent and greater capture of CO2, boost sustainable tourism and, due to the spillover effect, will favor fishing due to the increase in fishing resources.
"At VWC we believe that every action counts and great works can be achieved if we work together in cooperation to achieve them, this expansion of the Galapagos marine reserve is a clear example of this" said Marion Toro, President and co-founder of Vive World in Cooperation.
Undoubtedly an important step for conservation, but much remains to be done and the support of each one of us is necessary.
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