A ministerial agreement was signed that formalizes the Hermandad Marine Reserve, in Galapagos

The Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition affirmed, in a statement, that yesterday, March 14, 2022, the ministerial agreement was signed that gives way to the officialization of the Hermandad Marine Reserve, in Galapagos. The presidential decree that created this new protected area was signed on January 14 in the archipelago.

The environmental authority made the technical feasibility and declared the reserve with an area of ​​60,000 square kilometers, located in open waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Ecuador, connecting with Costa Rica. “Times have been respected,” said the entity.

“Ecuador has the largest fishing fleet in the Eastern Pacific, having reached this conservation milestone for the country and the world, in consensus of fishermen, environmentalists, academia and non-governmental organizations demonstrates that dialogue is essential for the Government of the Meeting”, indicated Gustavo Manrique, Minister of the Environment.

As of yesterday, the area of ​​the Hermandad Marine Reserve was incorporated into the National System of Protected Areas of Ecuador. All those activities that are not compatible with the provisions of the Organic Code of the Environment and its regulations in this new area are prohibited.

The environmental entity also reported that “work is being done on the management plan for the protected area for its efficient management” in coordination with the Ministries of Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries; Foreign Relations and Human Mobility; Production; Economy and Finance, and Defense.

The 60,000 square kilometers comprises 30,000 of don’t take and 30,000 non-longlines. These are in addition to the 138,000 square kilometers that were already protected.

Brotherhood will allow the protection of migratory species such as sea turtles, manta rays, whales and sharks, it will boost sustainable tourism which in turn will generate more jobs, it will strengthen coastal marine conservation, it will mitigate the impacts of climate change, through a consistent and greater capture of CO2 and will promote productive development with the increase of fishing resources. (I)