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92 | OCEAN GOVERNANCE

TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC
For reinforced marine

protection in the Galápagos

An overview by the Galápagos Conservation Trust with details on
the conservation efforts made to protect one of the most fascinating

laboratories of evolution.

After supporting the establishment of the new Her- Jen Jones, Project Manager at GCT, then provided
mandad marine reserve, which has just extended an overview of the action nurturing the vision of Galá-
the Galápagos protected area with the addition of a pagos for 2030: marine biodiversity protected from
large migratory corridor where fishing will be partially unsustainable fishing and pollution, better prepared
prohibited, the Galápagos Conservation Trust (GCT) to build climate resilience. An objective largely shared,
is supporting its partners to measure the impact of as confirmed in a video by local figures in the Galápa-
this new reserve and to ensure it is respected. The gos, calling for action to protect their thirteen islands.
talks during Monaco Ocean Week on 23 March 2022 But this regional objective must be based on broader
provided an opportunity to review the scientific efforts involvement since the ocean knows no boundaries.
made and to advocate what underlies the new marine “To protect the biodiversity of the Galápagos marine
protected areas in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. The reserve, global cooperation is necessary. Measures
innovative tools necessary for the effective manage- must be taken in the marine protected areas, exclu-
ment of pollution and overfishing were also explored. sive economic zones and the High Seas, currently
unprotected”, said Jen Jones before concluding: “We
The ambassador of the Galápagos Conservation are honoured that the voice of the Galápagos is being
Trust (GCT), Sarah Darwin, a descendent of the heard on the Monegasque arena and to be sharing
eminent scientist, opened the event by celebrating the results of our work on sharks and plastics, gene-
the creation of the Hermandad marine reserve set up rously supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco
in January 2022, before introducing a short video of Foundation”.
the Ambassador of Ecuador to the United Kingdom,
Sebastian Corrál, showing the importance of stren-
gthening the resilience of these ocean territories to
negative climate impacts.

“Charles Darwin described the Galápagos Islands as ‘a little world within
itself’ characterised by the large number of unique plants and animals.
We now have a better understanding of the interrelationship between
IN the Galápagos and the outside world. Never has it been more urgent
to call upon a wide-ranging collaboration to help us find solutions to
SIGHT protect this archipelago.” Sarah Darwin, Ambassador for the Galápagos
Conservation Trust.