A new sanctuary protects marine life around the Galapagos Islands.
When you think about the Galapagos Islands, you probably think about a bunch of turtles that are slowly marching their way to extinction. The reality couldn’t be farther from the truth, as a new sanctuary in the islands contains the highest abundance of sharks in the known world.
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The shark sanctuary, together with 21 smaller conservation areas scattered throughout the volcanic archipelago protects over 18,000 square miles, or one third of the water around the Galapagos Islands. The shark sanctuary alone makes up 15,000 of those miles.
The Galapagos Islands is a world heritage site since they inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Ninety-seven percent of the land of the islands is protected, but the oceans around it were not. This was a problem, since the islands contain a high abundance of hammerhead and reef sharks, which are huge targets for black market fisherman.
According to a study by the Charles Darwin Research Station, there are twice as many sharks in the waters as the second highest area known to man, Cocos Island National Park in Costa Rica. This new sanctuary is a step in the right direction regarding protecting this abundant wildlife, and is a direct result of Ecuador’s devotion to the cause of protecting biodiversity.
