Have you read this yet?
Hope I'm allowed to put something like this on the forums, if not let me know and I won't do it again but I feel it's for a good cause.
PREVENT DESTRUCTIVE FISHING IN THE GALAPAGOS
A siege underway in the Galapagos -- where local fishermen have taken over the offices of the Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Research Station, and World Wildlife Fund -- threatens to undo rules meant to protect the islands? many endangered and endemic species. Some of the fishermen are calling on the president of Ecuador to lift regulations on fishing in the Galapagos marine reserve, which would open the door to a fishing free-for-all in this World Heritage Site.
Legislation enacted in 1998 created the Galapagos Marine Reserve, the second largest marine protected area in the world. The law eliminated industrial fishing from the reserve, creating a windfall for the local artisanal fishermen who are now the only fishermen allowed in the area. With input from fishermen and other stakeholders, the government adopted carefully balanced restrictions on fishing. It?s these regulations that some fishermen now want eliminated.
With increasing demand in Asian markets for products not traditionally exploited in the Galapagos, such as sea cucumbers and shark fins, hundreds of new fishers, interested in taking their share of the high prices these products fetch, have moved to the islands in recent years. The increase in fishing has resulted in the decline of marine populations. Research suggests that the numbers of sea cucumbers, lobsters, sharks, and groupers are all declining. And other species could be following closely behind. The waters around the Galapagos Islands are an oasis for hundreds of species of sharks, manta rays, whales, and fish, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Because these species tend to aggregate in these waters, they are particularly susceptible to overfishing.
While it?s important for legitimate fishing community concerns to be addressed ? and WWF is eager to aid in that process ? eliminating or weakening regulations that protect fish inside the reserve would ultimately take a serious toll on the economic health of the islands and of the protesting fishermen themselves. Long-term economic and ecological damage is too high a price to pay to create a short-term windfall.
A relatively unspoiled ecological and evolutionary treasure trove, the Galapagos Islands today sparkle like gems in the Pacific Ocean. Made famous by the English naturalist Charles Darwin?s ?Origin of the Species,? the islands have retained nearly 95 percent of their species for thousands of years. Sadly, the islands face many threats including overharvesting of marine resources, overgrazing by livestock, wildlife poaching, pollution, and increased immigration.
The Galapagos Marine Reserve covers 133,000 square kilometers. Numerous species of reptiles, birds, and mammals that inhabit the terrestrial areas of the archipelago depend directly on the sea for their survival. Fifty-seven species of birds live in the Galapagos, and more than 30 of them depend on the ocean to obtain food. In addition, the islands are a sanctuary for threatened whales and turtles.
This is not the first time the fishing community has used violence to demand changes to fishing restrictions in the Galapagos.
The president is likely to decide within the next few days whether or not to give in to the fishermen?s demands. Please act now.
Follow the instructions to send a free letter to the president of Ecuador urging him not to allow destructive fishing in the Galapagos marine reserve. We'll also send copies to Ecuador's minister of government and minister of environment. Make your messages really count by adding your own thoughts. To do so, take action via Your Personal Action Center. Please urge your friends and colleagues to take this action
Here is the address to take action --> http://takeaction.worldwildlife.org/action...&item=15542[/b]
