Ecuadorian whale sanctuary is created providing protection for the Galapagos Islands

Ecuador has taken the initiative, as the whaling moratorium comes up for review, to establish a cetacean sanctuary covering its entire 200-mile zone of control. It is the first such sanctuary of this scope in all of South America. This sanctuary includes the waters around the Galapagos Islands, a fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ambio 1991-04, Vol.20 (2), p.97-97
Main Author: Evans, D. (Charles Darwin Research Station, Galapagos (Ecuador))
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BALEINE
BALLENA
CAZA
Cetacea
Cetaceans
CHASSE
CONSERVACION DE LA NATURALEZA
CONSERVATION DE LA NATURE
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
HUNTING
ILES GALAPAGOS
ISLAS GALAPAGOS
Marine
NATURE CONSERVATION
Whale Sanctuary
WHALES
Whaling
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Summary:Ecuador has taken the initiative, as the whaling moratorium comes up for review, to establish a cetacean sanctuary covering its entire 200-mile zone of control. It is the first such sanctuary of this scope in all of South America. This sanctuary includes the waters around the Galapagos Islands, a former whaling area where sperm whales were essentially eradicated in the heyday of commercial whaling during the last century. This refuge is especially important to protect the diverse cetacean populations found around the Galapagos, where at least 18 species gather to feed, mate and calve. The threat of repeating the past damages to sperm whales has been stopped, and an important economic resource has been set aside for conservation and non-destructive scientific research. Other nations must follow Ecuador's example to protect cetaceans, whether through national legislation or by a strengthening of the existing moratorium.
ISSN:0044-7447
1654-7209