Protecting Galápagos: Ecuador's Battle Against Illegal Fishing

Ecuador is actively preparing to protect the waters near the Galápagos Islands from illegal fishing by foreign vessels. This effort arises due to concerns about the impact that unregulated fishing activity could have on the rich marine life of the archipelago. The Ecuadorian Navy has intensified its operations and recently conducted training exercises alongside regional allies such as the United States, Peru, and Colombia. These exercises included drills to intercept and board illegally operating fishing vessels in the area.

Since 2018, when Ecuadorian authorities captured a Chinese vessel, the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999, loaded with 300 tons of illegal catch near Galápagos, training operations have become a priority. Frigate Captain Guillermo Miranda, commander of the vessel now renamed Hualcopo following its legal handover to Ecuador, highlighted the seriousness of the issue. According to Miranda, these foreign fishing fleets can threaten critical ecosystems by depleting migratory and protected marine species that are integral to the marine environment of the Galápagos.

An additional concern is that many of these vessels, predominantly flying Chinese flags, disable their satellite tracking systems to avoid detection and monitoring of their activities. While China asserts that its vessels comply with international regulations on high seas fishing, Ecuadorian authorities and other critics have expressed skepticism about these claims.

In response to this situation, Ecuador is strengthening its maritime surveillance and control capabilities, aiming to ensure the protection of one of the world's most diverse and delicate marine ecosystems.