© Environment News Service (ENS) 2000
November 22, 2000

PUERTO AYORA, Ecuador, November 22, 2000 (ENS) - Disgruntled lobster fishermen have taken out their frustration over new catch limits by vandalizing the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos chain and threatening the station's employees. Two fishermen were wounded in a tear gas battle.

Each of the three main inhabited islands, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela, experienced different violent and confrontational incidents.

On Isabela, the offices of the National Park, of the Charles Darwin Research Station and of the System of Inspection and Quarantine for Galapagos on Isabela were occupied by demonstrators, as was the tortoise breeding center. The municipality buildings were also occupied.

The Park and Station offices on San Cristobal remain closed after vandals damaged the offices and destroyed everything in them.

Since 1996 the Charles Darwin Research Station has carried out detailed monitoring of catches of the spiny lobster in Galapagos. The station has been a member of the Participatory Management Group with representatives from the fishery, tourism and conservation sectors since its creation in 1997.

According to Paola Diaz, information officer for the research station, for the 2000 fishing season the Participatory Management Group agreed on a quota of 50 tons of lobster, on the basis that the catch has fluctuated around this level for many years without putting the resource in danger, although, on a number of occasions, it was considered that lobster was being overexploited.

It was agreed that the daily amount of lobster taken by a fisherman would be reassessed during the fishing season, to consider an increase in the quota. On that basis the fishery season was opened on September 1 and closed when it reached the 50 ton quota on October 31.

The Participatory Management Group met again on November 7. After analyzing the lobster fishery data, they proposed an increase in the lobster quota.

This was unacceptable to the fishermen, who rejected any attempt at negotiation. They wanted to continue fishing until December 31, regardless of the amount taken.

On the November 14, groups of fishermen attempted to prevent tourists from landing at visitor sites on San Cristobal and Espanola. The Ecuadorian Navy kept them from carrying out their intentions, but during these confrontations, tear gas was used and two fishermen were wounded.

Following fishermens' blockades, the National Park and Charles Darwin Research Station offices were closed on the afternoon of November 14, with a police guard deployed at the main entrance. Due to the threat of a march by fishermen in the afternoon, police blockaded the entrance with barbed wire.

Some fishermen have prevented tourists and local people from using the municipal dock to embark or disembark from their boats, and fishermen in fast launches chased some tourist boats that left the harbour.

On Thursday, the offices were reopened following the Santa Cruz fishermen's acceptance of the increased quota and their removal of the blockade.

Diaz said that a peaceful march, organised by the Park to reject the vandalism carried out by fishermen on Isabela was planned for Friday morning, but was suspended due to threats and a lack of guarantees for the physical security of the participants.

In Seattle, Washington, Captain Paul Watson heard about the attacks as he was outfitting the Sea Shepherd ship Sirenian in a berth on Lake Union for the first international conservation patrols of the Marine Reserve in the Galapagos Islands.

He is now making all speed for the Galapagos with as much computer equipment on board as he can gather. The Sirenian sails south to Ecuador on Friday stopping to collect donations at major cities down the coast.

The Sirenian's first tour of duty in the Galapagos is scheduled to last through 2005, enforcing conservation law in tandem with the Guadalupe River, the Park Service patrol boat, Watson said.

Founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Watson is fiercely protective of marine mammals and the entire complex, fragile marine environment. Considering his history of campaigns on behalf of environmental conservation since 1970, he said, "We think what's happening in the Galapagos is a test case for the world."

This is the test question, Watson said. "Can people there be convinced that if they continue to take all they can get from such a place, this means that there will soon be no more to take - not for them, not for their children, not for anyone, ever again? If the people who live there cannot be persuaded to save such a place, then nowhere on Earth can be said to be special enough, no species precious enough, to save. But if they can be persuaded, we hope the world will take note." Error: Unable to read footer file.