The Galapagos National Park Service reported today that it had participated in an anti-Dengue fever community clean-up effort last week on the island of San Cristobal.  The effort had been organized by the Ministry of Health, in reaction to the presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito on the island, which led to some cases of Dengue fever there last year.

Park service staff collaborated with bags, gloves, a vehicle and 15 rangers, who were part of several cleaning crews distributed by the city during the 5 hour effort that took place in the main town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

According to Wikipedia, Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles.  Most people with dengue recover without any ongoing problems.

Typically, the risk of contracting Dengue fever is much higher in areas where other people already have it, because the mosquito can more likely transmit the virus as it bites more than one person in the course of its life cycle.   There is very little, if none at all, of contracting Dengue fever on uninhabited islands in Galapagos.   However, if you will be spending time in the town, the best strategy to reduce the risk is the use of long sleeve shirts and long pants and socks, along with the application of mosquito repellent.

From the Galapagos National Park Service

During a recent 12-day trip to Darwin and Wolf Islands in the north of the archipelago (only visited by dedicated scuba diving cruises - no land visits are possible here), technicians of the Galapagos National Park Service, with support from scientists of the Charles Darwin Foundation and the University of California Davis, managed to capture and mark eleven sharks of different species, as part of a shark monitoring program.  The idea is to understand the movement patterns of sharks within and outside the protected area.

To tag the shark, one must first capture it, put it on a stretcher where it is secured and taken onto the research vessel.  Once there, it is measured and satellite tags are fixed to the dorsal fin. During this process, seawater is supplied to the shark through a hose that runs it over their gills.

Tags have so far been placed in 5 silky sharks, 2 hammerhead sharks, 2 Galapagos sharks, and 2 black tip sharks.   The tags include a small antenna - so when the shark's dorsal fin pokes out of the water (as it does when they are swimming at the surface), the device sends a satellite signal which is then relayed back to the Park's monitoring.  Earlier such studies have demonstrated that some sharks move between Cocos Island (Costa Rica) and Galapagos.

CNH Tours notes that this kind of information helps develop effective shark conservation policies.  For example, if the scientists discover that the sharks migrate regularly to other places, it will be clear that their long term conservation will require cooperation with the fisheries management authorities in these places as well.

The large schools of hammerhead sharks are one of diving wonders of Galapagos - divers come from around the world to witness this phenomenon.   But sharks have been aggressively fished over the past several years, mostly to feed the growing Chinese market for "shark fin soup".    Even in the Galapagos marine reserves, sharks are often illegally fished for their fins and all efforts must be made to stop this practice, both by controlling illegal fishing, and by encouraging the main consumers of shark fins that the practice is not sustainable.

The number of visitors to Galapagos has been increasing rapidly over the past 20 years.   Soon, over 200,000 visitors a year will be arriving.    While the cruise ship visit is the classic way to see the islands, due to strict limits on the total number of ships and berths allowed to sail in the islands (thus helping conserve the islands and the visitor experience), more and more people are visiting Galapagos by land, on island hopping trips.

To respond to the growing demand for land based services (hotels, restaurants, taxis, day tripping boats etc.) local entrepreneurs have been getting into the tourism business in a large way.  Unfortunately, they've often done so outside of the law or by ignoring regulations.  As a result, today in Galapagos, those that have invested in ensuring their business respects regulations and safety standards are at times competing with those that haven't.   And those that haven't are undermining good business practices.

Though the authorities are trying to clamp down on these uncertified businesses, it's always a bit of a cat and mouse game.   In an effort to help discerning visitors (like you) choose only authorized service providers, the Ministry of Tourism has recently launched its "OK Galapagos!" campaing.

OK Galapagos is a Ministry of Tourism (Ecuador) public awareness campaign designed to encourage both visitors and members of the national and international tourism communities to support legal service providers in Galapagos.  Initiated in September 2011, this campaign aims to strengthen and give recognition to members of the formal tourist service sector in Galapagos versus informal (non-legalized) service providers.

In 2012, visitors to Galapagos can expect to encounter information about the campaign on their flight from the continent as well as in the air terminals of Galapagos.  Educational material will be presented in Spanish, English, French and German (subtitles only) with the objective of raising awareness among passengers and/or potential visitors to use, prefer and search for legal or formal service operators during their stay in the islands.

OK Galapagos is good for everyone.

The Ministry of Tourism encourages members of the national and international tourism communities to ensure that they have full knowledge of whom they are hiring.  Placing precedence on working with legal service providers in Galapagos is encouraged by the government for safety.  Professionals who have any questions or concerns about OK Galapagos are encouraged to contact:  okgalapagos@turismo.gob.ec

When considering services in Galapagos, look for the OK Galapagos logo.  At present, 60% of legal service providers have been provided with the OK Galapagos sticker to display in a prominent place in their establishment.  Be sure to ask your service provider if they are a recognized by OK Galapagos.

For more information about the campaign and a complete list of Certified Touristic Service Providers in Galapagos, please see:  http://www.emediasys.com/okgalapagos/

With your support, OK Galapagos will optimize tourism in the region as well as help ensure a pleasant, memorable experience for all visitors to Galapagos.

CNH Tours is pleased to mark Charles Darwin's 203^rd birthday on February 12th.  We don't intend on getting into the details, but in brief, if you're reading this, you should know that his very short time in Galapagos (5 weeks in 1835 out of a nearly 5 year journey on the Beagle) contributed significantly to advancing his thoughts on how different species came about, in different places.   It was his time in Galapagos that inspired his famous, goose-bump inducing line, which took him to the gaping precipice of a radical revelation:

"Hence, both in space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact - that mystery of mysteries - the first appearance of new beings on this earth." (Voyage of the Beagle, 1839)

We are also titillated to report that a CNH Tours ancestor, William Blenkiron Junior (Heather's Great-great-great- grandfather) corresponded with Mr. Darwin.  William's father, William Sr, was a famous breeder of race horses in Eltham (formerly in Kent, but now a London Borough).   William Jr. informs Mr. Darwin in a letter dated 1868:

"From what little experience I have had amongst horses I should say the mane of the stallion is as a rule thicker & stronger than that of the mare, when both are allowed to live in as near a state of nature as is possible- In the case of horses fighting, they invariably endeavour to seize one another by the neck, & I do not fancy the mane is there to act as a sort of protection any more than the forelock."

In Mr. Darwin's book "The Decent of Man" (1874), Chapter 17 entitled:  Secondary Sexual Characters of Mammals, Mr. Darwin writes:

"In regard to horses, Mr. Blenkiron, the greatest breeder of race-horses in the world, informs me that stallions are so frequently capricious in their choice, rejecting one mare and without any apparent cause taking to another, that various artifices have to be habitually used."

CNH Tours notes that for an unknown reason, this branch of the family is no longer associated with globally recognized race horse breeding outfits, and that we now have to make a living selling Galapagos cruises.   We may come across fewer members of the royalty, but we certainly can still feel the passion in those with whom we do business!

Happy birthday Mr. Darwin!

(from the Galapagos National Park Service news service)

This fly is a serious threat to bird species endemic to the Galapagos Islands. From 31 January to 3 February, experts from different countries are meeting in Galapagos to participate in a workshop organized by the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation, which seeks to find ways to control Philornis downsi, a parasitic fly attacking at least 17 bird species in the archipelago, including some endangered species.

This event will be attended by scholars from countries such as USA, France, Spain, Australia, Trinidad, Austria, Argentina and Ecuador.  Participants will develop a research and management plan to control this fly introduced and will talk to guides, college students and the general public.

The first part of the workshop will identify the information that is not available and prevents development of effective control of the insect. Then the feasibility of different control methods such as traps attractive, introduction of sterile insects and biological control will be analyzed.  Finally, the participants will develop an action plan for research and management of this introduced species over the next 5 years and identify possible sources of financing.

The parasitic fly's larvae cause high mortality in young birds, including endangered species such as the mangrove finch, finch medium and Floreana mockingbird.  Implementing a plan to control this fly is extremely important. In addition to direct mortality, studies have confirmed that the chicks that survive often have deformed beaks, reduced growth rates and anemia.

As former staff of the Charles Darwin Research Station and of the Charles Darwin Research Station, CNH Tours is very aware of the perils linked to introduced species in Galapagos.   One little fly like this one can lead to the extincction of several species found only in Galapagos.   Once they are established in the islands, it can be very difficult or impossible to eradicate them, resulting in the need to establish permanent and expensive programmes to ensure they don't end up destroying what Galapagos is famous for.   So, when you're being checked at the airport for transporting unauthorized foodstuffs, remember this fly.

The Galapagos National Park Service reported this weekend that the National Judicial Council has suspended the Chief Criminal Justice for Galapagos for 90 days as a result of the lawsuit filed by the Galapagos National Park Service, for release FER MARY I boat, caught last year while fishing illegally in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

On July 18, 2011, the National Park speedboat Sea Ranger 2, captured the fishing boat FER MARY I and six small accompanying outboard skiffs, while it was completing fishing operations within the protected 20 miles of the Galapagos Marine Reserve.   In its holds, the Park Service personnel encountered a total of 379 sharks, a protected species in Galapagos.

The Park Service had initiated the appropriate administrative and criminal actions to sanction this infraction.  During the judicial process, the Chief Criminal Justice for Galapagos, Jorge Cabrera, decided to declare invalid the criminal process, resulting in the release of the arrested crew of the FER MARY I.

This was the second time that Mr. Cabrera had made this kind of ruling.  An earlier case involved the REINA DEL CISNE, also captured with 65 sharks in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.  Such decisions completely undermine the very heavy investment in patrolling the Galapagos Marine Reserve, and send the wrong messages to the large industrial fishing interests that there are few repercussions for fishing illegally in the reserve. 

Since these decisions affected the natural rights to conservation of biodiversity in the Galapagos Islands and its Marine Reserve, explicitly enshrined in the Ecuadorian Constitution, the Galapagos National Park Service decided to file a complaint with the National Judiciary Council, requesting that this body take action.

The Galapagos National Park Service was very pleased to learn of the decision of the National Judiciary Council - and so is CNH Tours.   Though only a first step, CNH Tours hopes that the judiciary in Galapagos will begin to take environmental infractions more seriously.  It's only by sending a clear, firm message to those considering contravening the law will they think twice before doing so.

The Galapagos Marine Reserve is one of the few remaining places in the oceans where one can see large schools of hammerhead sharks, and where sharks in general fully occupy their ecological niche.   The global appetite for shark fin soup (mostly by the Asian communities, largely Chinese) has led to a huge reduction in shark numbers worldwide, often illegally, as unscrupulous fishermen do what they can to harvest this illegal catch.    Fortunately, there are signs of an increasing awareness in the shark fin consumer community that things should change - though the road ahead is still long!

CNH Tours has been trying to get the final word on the increases in flight costs from continental Ecuador to Galapagos over the past few weeks.   On December 16^th, the government of Ecuador suddenly announced that it would stop subsidizing fuel costs for air traffic as of January 1^st, 2012 - quite a short notice!  In the intervening days, there was plenty of confusion as to what that would mean for actual ticket costs, and if those who had already payed these in advance would be exempted.

As far as we know, prices will increase by the amounts listed below.   For TAME and Aerogal, the price increase was described in their respective websites.  LAN only posts the current prices, which are about $60-$70 higher than what they were in 2011.   We don't know why the prices are slightly different… one would expect that the removal of the subsidy would have the same effect on price increases - but we'll leave that one for the airlines to reveal.

Travelers having already paid for a 2012 cruise in full may or may not be required to pay the extra cost.  Most likely they will, as this is a significant increase and is a lot to swallow for travel agents.   We recommend simply that you be prepared to pay the difference when asked to do so.

Currently the new 2012 return air fare to Galapagos from Quito (adult) is:  $538 and from Guayaquil:  $428, as advertised on the LAN website.  Unless you are traveling independently to Galapagos, you will likely not have much choice in airlines, as the ship owners typically have standing reservations on specific planes for their clients.

The Galapagos National Park Service reported today that it had decided to permanently halt the construction of a hotel in Punta Estrada sector of Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz island, in Galapagos.   The construction was deemed illegal and punishable by a fine of $ 52,800.  Mauricio Ponce, the company's legal representative PONCA SA, owner of such construction, was successfully charged with not previously obtaining the environmental license for a hotel construction, and for having caused environmental damage.   CNH Tours has reported previously on this on-going issue.   

Additionally, the judicial decision requested that the company through its legal representative must submit a remediation plan including full emergency assessment of environmental damage and compensation for affected people and communities.

The company began construction of a building in Punta Estrada, Santa Cruz Island, after having obtained municipal permits for the construction of a single family dwelling, which does not require the same type of environmental permit.  It soon became apparent however that the dimensions and characteristics of the building being constructed, consisting of 26 rooms, was equivalent to a hotel, for which more detailed environmental impact analysis and permits must be obtained.    The building was already being marketed on the Internet under the name "Palo Santo Spa".

CNH Tours has long noted how land based tourism in Galapagos, which has grown significantly in the past 5-10 years, was poorly regulated and as a result, the far west / cowboy attitude in this sector was leading to chaotic development, and compromising of safety standards.   The government authorities have been working had at getting a handle on this sector and this story very clearly illustrates how things are starting to improve.   Unscrupulous people will find it increasingly difficult to build anything anywhere, trying to avoid existing regulations.  Similarly, day trip operators are increasingly under the spotlight, ensuring that only those with permits are allowed to handle tourism.   The permit systems ensures a better respect of safety regulations and of environmental limitations.    When considering a land based activity in Galapagos, be sure you ask the operator if they have the legal right to carry out the activity.

CNH Tours has just learned that the government of Ecuador announced the end of jet fuel subsidies last Saturday, 26^th November.  This is to be applied as of January 1^st, 2012 and will result in a US$90 million savings for the government.   Information is not yet complete, but the news we are receiving is that flight tickets to Galapagos may go up by as much as 20% in the new year.    This would result in an increase of approximately US$80.     Those people who have already paid for their Galapagos vacation may be required to cover this difference - it all depends on how the increase will be applied (e.g. new bookings only, or to all new and existing bookings).  CNH Tours imagines (and hopes!)  that given the relatively high administrative overhead involved in trying to get an additional $80 from existing paid bookings, that this increase would hopefully only apply to new ones.

The two main airlines flying into Galapagos, TAME and Aerogal, have not posted any information in this regard on their websites.

CNH Tours lived in Galapagos from 1998-2002 - and during that time, air tickets from Quito cost a little over US$400 return.  Today, they cost about $440.  A 20% increase would lead to a ticket costing as much as $528.

More info will be posted here as details come available.

The U.S.  National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA - (U.S. tax dollars at work - thank you) is predicting peak "La Niña" conditions in December 2011 / January 2012, after which they are expected to taper off.  What does that mean for Galapagos bound adventurers?  Typically, La Niña in Galapagos is characterized by cooler than usual water temperatures, and a drier climate.   Normally we expect water temperatures to be at their warmest from about January to April - though these should still be the warmest of the year, they will likely be a little cooler.   Those of you already inclined to use a wetsuit might want to go ahead with it.

January - April is also considered the wet season, for the occasional tropical downpours.  These rains trigger the "Galapagos spring" in the plant community, resulting in the sprouting of leaves in the trees.   During a "La Niña", if the rains fail, the leaves don't come out so well, resulting in a winter like landscape of leafless trees in some parts.

The picture below (credit to NOAA) reflects surface water temperatures in the Pacific.  It indicates that water temperatures in Galapagos are between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius (3.6 to 5.4 degrees Farenheit) below normal for this time of year.  As November waters are usually at their chilliest, anyone contemplating a swim in the islands in the next few weeks will likely appreciate a wetsuit.

As of the 1^st of February 2012, all cruise ships in Galapagos will have to had to move to the new 14 night itineraries as per new regulations of the Galapagos National Park Service.  Until then, the typical cruise ship would repeat its itinerary on a weekly basis - looping back to the same visitor sites every 7 days.   The 14 night itinerary will force the 75 or so cruise ships operating in Galapagos waters to spread out more thinly amongst the 70 terrestrial and 75 marine official visitor sites in the islands.  This will result in less wear and tear on each site, and reduced visitor congestion.  Gone will be the days, we hope, where you risked sharing your intimate wildlife encounters with 50 or more people on a particular visitor site.

Ship owners now have the option of offering cruises of varying lengths.  Whereas before, the 7 night itineraries were offered as either a full 7 night, or a choice between the rather short 3 or 4 nights, they can now offer 4, 6, 8, 11 and 14 night trips, giving clients the chance to make the best of their available holiday time.  CNH Tours strongly recommends taking at least a 5 night trip - but only if you are very hard pressed for time of budget.   The overhead for a Galapagos trip is already very high - just getting yourself to the islands is costly in time and money - so you might as well go for broke and make the best out of it while there.   The truly adventurous can now do a complete 14 night itinerary, giving them the chance to see Galapagos in a way that would make even Charles Darwin green with envy!

Of course, some tour companies have complained - as this forces them to change advertising materials, and re-think how they can sell their trips.   But in the end, this is good for Galapagos, and good for sustainable tourism.

CNH Tours has been chartering the Samba for  its "Active Galapagos" trips in the past few years.  We are proud to note that the Samba owners were among the first to voluntarily adopt the new 14 night itinerary in recognition of the positive implications for the visitor experience.  It has been doing so since early 2011, well ahead of the deadline.   In doing so, the Samba was able to design what it considers are idealy itineraries - whereas the latecomers in this process will have had less say.   The Samba now offers a choice between 2 distinct 7 night itineraries.   Of course, some are hard pressed to choose between one or another - leading to some "choice anxiety" - but everyone should rest assured that both choices offer excellent wildlife viewing, landscape admiring, and snorkeling opportunities.

PS:  Tour companies typically measure a cruise length in days.   This leads to confusing situation whereby a 1 week itinerary is called an 8 day cruise, and not a 14 day cruise.   One embarks on a Sunday, and disembarks on the following Sunday - so the Sundays are counted twice, even though you spend very little time on board on your last Sunday, and only get going in the early afternoon on your first Sunday.  This can be leading - hence our propensity to consider a one week tour as a 7 night tour.  You'll get 6 full cruise days, and fractions of 2 other days.

The Galapagos National Park Service is in the middle of a legal battle to halt the construction of this building, on the grounds that it is a hotel, and not a private residence.   The owner filled out the paperwork for a construction permit with the municipal government of Puerto Ayora last year, indicating he was building a house.   Houses do not need to meet strict environmental standards, and do not need ministry of tourism approval.    The owner started building his house, and soon, witnesses were reporting to the park that a hotel was under construction.   After investigating the site, the Park, which is in charge of certifying that environmental standards have been respected when a hotel is built, requested and obtained a stop work order from the local judge.    A few months later, the Park was notified that the owner had ignored the stop work order and had started up construction again.   The Park obtained another stop work order which has been in place since.   But the owner turned around and charged, before the courts, that the Park did not have the authority to interfere in the construction of his "house".      This week, the court responded in support of the park, indicating that the electrical works in the building is not compatible with that of a house and concluded that the owner was in fact building a hotel.   This information, along with pictures of the building, led to the court's decision.

This decision is a positive step in the application of the law in Galapagos.   Such situations in the past often resulted in the courts deciding in favour of those trying to circumvent environmental laws.   Over recent years, much effort has been invested in strengthening the judicial processes in Galapagos, particularly those related to environmental issues.    CNH Tours applauds the efforts of the Galapagos National Park Service, along with those of the judges involved in this case.    While cruise ship tourism was finally tamed in Galapagos after many years of lax regulation (no additional capacity has been granted to the cruise ship fleet for the last 10 years), land based tourism is still in the "wild west" phase, as exemplified by this case.    The government of Ecuador has been working at regulating land based tourism over the past few years - though some progress has been made, more needs to be done.    CNH Tours is keen on seeing a well ordered tourism industry in the islands - one that focuses on the respect of the law, the application of safety standards and the removal of tourism pirates - those who operate non-authorized services and undermine legitimate, law abiding businesses.   All visitors to Galapagos should double check on the legitimacy of the businesses with whom they are considering entering into a transaction.

Last week, in its decision over a challenge by Alfredo Ortiz (member of legislative assembly for Galapagos) on the legitimacy of the Galapagos National Park tourism concession process, the Ecuadorian Supreme Court came down in favour of the Galapagos National Park.  This is a huge success for orderly and transparent tourism management in Galapagos.

In an effort to clean up the tourism concessions process in Galapagos, new regulations had been adopted with the intention of giving everybody a fair chance at obtaining the right to operate tourism activities in the islands, with a particular focus on ship based tourism.   This includes cruise ships, but also the operation of inter-island transport, day trips and bay tours.    One provision of the regulations was designed to reduce the accumulation of concessions within one family, in an effort to spread the tourism wealth, so to speak.  Another provision gave a cut-off date of 1998 as the last year new ships operating in Galapagos would be formally recognized as being legitimate.   In 1998, the Galapagos Special Law was passed, regulating the introduction of new tourism ships in Galapagos.

Mr. Ortiz introduced the King Marine, a tourist class ship designed for day tours, to the Galapagos in 1999 - after the 1998 cut-off date.   He failed to obtain a permit to operate his ship based on this fact.  He took the Park to court on its decisions.   The first court hearing reversed the Park's decision, but subsequent appeals, all the way to the Supreme Court, finally vindicated the Park.     The King Marine has also been involved in thinly veiled sports fishing activities in Galapagos, a practice that is not explicitly permitted.

CNH Tours is very pleased to see that the law in Ecuador was upheld to the very end.   Mr. Ortiz, known for his populism and strong man tactics, was attempting to sow chaos and uncertainty into a well designed and implemented tourism management policy, and in so doing, intended on acquiring the right to operate his ship.     Such tactics are precisely those that have led to set-backs in the government's attempts at ensuring good tourism management in the islands.   The Supreme Court's decision should put this issue to rest once and for all.

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment announced on its website this week that it will be providing support in ensuring that the development of lands recently allocated for housing in Puerto Ayora will take place according to the best environmental standards possible.     Up to 1,000 residential units are expected to be built over the next few years in the "El Mirador" housing development, located along the main road leading out of town.   Along with other conservation organizations, including the Charles Darwin Foundation, the Prince's Foundation will work with local communities to produce an urban architecture code for a development of over 1000 houses at El Mirador, Puerto Ayora. The code sets out information on building codes and energy efficient housing, whilst also considering the overall impacts of construction on the local eco-system and communities within the area.

CNH Tours has remarked in the past that current building standards are maladapted to the environment in Galapagos, which has a very hot season with intense sunlight, and a cooler season requiring, in some cases, a bit of indoor heating at night.  Poor building practices result in an excessive reliance on air conditioning, and poor insulation and use of vegetation for shading results in very low efficiency in terms of use of electricity.   As most electricity is generated by oil powered electrical power plants, this oil has to be imported at a high cost, subsidized by the government of Ecuador, resulting in even more wastage, and oil spill risks (see the Jessica Oil spill in January 2001 - in Galapagos).

Water is also scarce, yet most rainwater is left to drain off rooftops onto the ground, and is lost to human use.    The water in Puerto Ayora is unsafe to drink, with high E.coli counts (because sewage is simply flushed into holes the ground) and high salinity (because water is pumped from below ground, where it mixes with sea water given the high porosity of the volcanic rock on which Puerto Ayora is built).

So, CNH Tours welcomes this news.   There has been some sensationalist reporting about it in the UK press, indicating that the development will double the population of Galapagos.    In fact, the development will have no impact on the population.    The people are there already, the population is growing through natural growth, and through a well controlled immigration.   The land for the "El Mirador" is already slated for development - the issue is, will it be good development, or bad development.  The demand for housing in Galapagos is very  high, and the Prince's Foundation involvement will only assure that better building standards are applied.

For more informaiton, see the Prince's Foundation page here.

Image from the Prince's Foundation Website

Galapagos Celebrates the anniversary of World Heritage listing

Over three hundred students from different educational institutions of primary and secondary education in the town of Puerto Ayora, along with officials of the Galapagos National Park Service, city hall and the ministry of tourism joined in a parade down the main street on Wednesday this week.

Children and young people displayed along the sidewalks and balconies displayed posters, banners, costumes, etc. to transmit a show of pride in Galapagos. The parade ended at the San Francisco Park, on the boardwalk in Santa Cruz, a place where the principal authorities of the municipality, who led the march, gave speeches in line with the celebration.

The next day, the Galapagos National Park Service ran the second Galapagos Dance Festival with the participation of the different schools.   On September 7,  1978, the World Heritage Committee of the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), signed the document officially recognizing the Galapagos Islands, as the first World Heritage site ever.   In 2001, the government of Ecuador submitted a proposal to have the Galapagos marine reserve also recognized under the World Heritage Banner.   After a careful analysis, the World Heritage Committee also accepted it.   Today, there are over 900 World Heritage sites around the world, including such iconic places the pyramids of Egypt, the Grand Canyon in the USA and Peru's Machu Picchu.     But Galapagos takes pride in being the first ever World Heritage site to be named.

September 1, 2011

The sea front at the main town of San Cristobal island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, was battered by heavy seas over the past three days, reports a local Blog poster, Adriana Meza.   The Military Oceanographic Institute gave an advance warning that unusually heavy seas would result in greater wave action than usual.

The town is famous for the large colony of sea lions that lounge around near, or even on the sea front boardwalk.   But the waves played havoc on the seafront infrastructure, messing up some landscaping.    Nobody was hurt, and the sea lions knew how to handle the waves, but local residents took the opportunity to admire the spectacle.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno hosts one of the 2 airports in Galapagos.

After several cases of methanol poisoning were detected by health officials in the past 2 weeks, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health has ordered a recall of several different brands of wines and hard liquors.  After analysis, the Ministry detected small amounts of the toxic methanol in the Vino San Francisco - a wine produced in Ecuador and predominantly sold in smaller "mom & pop" stores.  Visitors to Galapagos in the coming weeks should be vigilant, purchasing any alcool in the larger markets, and making enquiries with the clerks.    Though no-body was reported to have died, some people were hospitalized for treatment.

Other alcoholic beverages flagged by the Ministry include:  Israel Durazno wines, Osadía wine, Durazno Especial, Silver label Cuban Rhum, Brown label Cuban Rhum,  Palo Viejo rhum, Ivanoff Vodka Ivanoff, Lima Limero, Lima Limón, Tentador frutilla wine, Roblecito liqueur, Tentador Durazno (peach) wine, Lima Limón Fiesta (Papelito), San Roque Moscatel wine, Brandy Las Tres Marías, Z-Uno.

The Galapagos National Park Service has decided to close direct access to the giant tortoise pens in the tortoise breeding centre near the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz island this week.   Of the six pens, two had been open to public "walk throughs" given visitors a chance to see the tortoises that much closer.

The decision was based on the fact that, over the past while, the park had been receiving a growing number of reports of unacceptable behaviour on the part of some naturalist guides who were not applying the regulations for visiting the pens.   People were reported to be walking on the tortoise's feeding platforms, touching the tortoises and leaving garbage behind.

Visitors will still be able to take the very nice boardwalk which takes them alongside the pens, from which they will still be able to get good views of the tortoises.  If the park has any reason to believe that guides will "pull up their socks" and ensure that regulations are applied, it said it may re-open the pens to visitors again.

The pens receive about 7,800 visitors a month and currently include 925 juvenile and 70 adult tortoises.

Picture courtesy Galapagos National Park Service

(story adapted from Sea Shepherd Society news item)

One of the biggest shark poaching arrests in the history of the Galapagos National Park recently took place. The national park rangers and an Ecuadorian naval ship apprehended the industrial longline fishing vessel from Manta, Ecuador and 30 or so fishermen. At the time of capture, the vessel was fishing 20 nautical miles within the designated area of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, southeast of Genovesa Island.

Upon inspection by the park service, it became clear that the vessel was using longlines to commercially fish for sharks, all of which are illegal in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Furthermore, it turned out that this vessel had been involved in a mass slaughter of sharks. The vessel's holds were filled with sharks, 357 in total. The confirmed death list included: 286 thresher sharks, 22 blue sharks, 40 Galapagos sharks, 6 hammerhead sharks; 2 tiger sharks, and 1 mako shark.

The Galapagos National Park Service has started an administrative process against the vessel, its owner, and crew. Simultaneously, the new environmental prosecutor for Galapagos has started a penal procedure in order to get maximum penalties for the people involved in this serious environmental crime.

Sea Shepherd Galapagos will monitor this case closely when it goes to court. The impact on the fragile Galapagos ecosystem is devastating and a message needs to be sent that such highly illegal activities will also come with severe consequences.

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) Sea Shepherd Galapagos is implementing will further improve vessel monitoring capabilities for the park service, making illegal fishing ever more difficult inside the protected waters of the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Sea Shepherd has been working in close cooperation with the Galapagos National Park since the year 2000, and the Ecuadorian National Police since 2007.

CNH Tours has had the privilege of sharing dinner with Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepher Society, when he was in Galapagos a few years ago.   He's quite a character!