Ecuador Expands No-Fishing Zone
.c The Associated Press
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - Ecuador's Congress has expanded the no-fishing zone around the ecologically sensitive Galapagos Islands from 15 to 40 miles to protect its marine life.
The law, passed Wednesday, would also limit permanent residence status to Ecuadoreans who have been on the islands five years or more, and introduce an inspection and quar antine system to combat ``invader'' species such as rats and goats that threaten the islands's native species.The Washington-based World Wildlife Fund called the law's approval ``the biggest milestone towards conserving the world famous Galapagos islands in the last half century'' and urged President Fabian Alarcon to put it into effect as soon as possible.
Environmentalists say fishing boats from Japan, North America and Ecuador are killing sea lions, sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, sea iguanas and birds near the Pacific Ocean islands.The archipelago, 600 miles west of Ecuador, is home to a variety of rare animal and plant species, such as its famous giant tortoises. Its unique wildlife helped evolutionist Charles Darwin develop his theories about the natural selection of species.
AP-NY-01-15-98 1819EST
Copyright 1997 The Associated Press.