1. Manifest Released by The Group of Users of the Marine Reserve and Galapagos Community.
2. The document in english is a translation of the original spanish release.
3. The message may be forwarded to others.

Galapagos Must Unite to Defend the Special Law for Galapagos

The Galápagos Marine Reserve was officially created as a "Protected Area" on March 18, 1998, with the passing of the Special Law of Galápagos. The establishment of this law was a long and arduous process of approval from the National Congress and for the Ecuadorian President. Today, this newly protected reserve is once again threatened by the biggest fishing fleet of the Pacific West. This fleet is not only ignoring the Law, it is also disregarding the Management Plan of the Galápagos Marine Reserve, which, with their approval and publication in the Official Registration, marked the end of the industrial fishing fleet in the Marine Reserve.

Now, the representatives of the Ecuadorian industrial fishing fleet have threatened that they will not respect the Law and they will continue to exploit the waters of Galápagos, demonstrating their thought that those with power and money can prevail over the law. Also, it is unofficially known that the "Super Minister" Juan Falconí Puig is leading the movement against the Law, demanding it be declared unconstitutional.

The industrial fishing sector has petitioned the Inter-institutional Authority of Galápagos Marine Reserve Management, requesting that they be allowed to continue fishing in the waters west of Isabela Island, Galapagos. During a meeting in Guayaquil, the Management Authority for the Ministry of the Environment denied the order, stating this request was against the Law. Nevertheless, the Industrial Fishing Sector continue with their attempts, using the pretext of a necessary study to demonstrate that industrial fishing is not preventing conservation in these waters. Until this new study is completed, which is expected to take 1-3 years, they demand continued permission for industrial fishing.

The local community should know that the supposed economic losses of the industrial fishing sector of Manta are extremely exaggerated. They must understand that, according to the Ecuadorian Atunera Association, the economic losses and decrease in the price of fish in the international market is due to the excessive fishing and the current lack of sales. It is also important to note that because of the migratory behavior of tuna, fishers only catch 10% of the stock within the waters of Galápagos, with the other 90% of fish caught in continental waters.

Despite the threats of the industrial fishing sector to the Galapagos population, the community is sensitive to the difficult economic situation of the families who depend on the industrial fishing sector. The Ecuadorian Government and the President of the industrial fisheries, Caesar Rohón, have been asked to invest $5 million to help fund the "new" studies. This would be used to optimize the management of the industrial and artesian fisheries, yet not at the cost of the conservation, and in social development programs that benefit the hundred of families of continental fishermen. The Ecuadorian government could receive the majority of these funds for this goal through international economic support, in exchange for protecting the integrity of this legal frame that currently assures the protection of the 40 miles of Galapagian waters from the coast, as stated in the Special Law and the Management Plan. Also, they could commit to approve the regulations of the Law definitively, which still remains on the desk of the Ecuadorian President.

Permitting the industrial fishing would be a violation of this Law and ignore a legal framework that was achieved through a constitutional and democratic process within Ecuador.

Permitting the industrial fishing would lead to an international lack of trust and discredit the effectiveness of a government that promotes itself as a defender of environmental conservation and provider of natural resource management.

Permitting the industrial fishing would mean Galápagos would have to receive the category of Patrimonio en Peligro. (Park in Peril)

Permitting the industrial fishing would mean that Ecuador would lose important international economic supporters that are currently interested in helping a country that protects such a vital resource as Galápagos.

Permitting the industrial fishing would weaken the process of managing participation of all the local users of the Marine Reserve of Galapagos, who are working to achieve long-term sustainable practices. This is threatened by industrial fishing, as they do not have the sentiment of responsibility or obligation for conservation of this area.

Permitting the industrial fishing would mean leaving future Galapagos people generations, future users and administrators of the Marine Reservation, without economic sustenance. Also, these waters, which are extraordinarily rich in biodiversity, serve as essential resources for the terrestrial and marine life of the islands. If continued, unsustainable fishing practices of Manta-based industrial fleets will destroy the ecological and economic benefits for Galapagos.

The Community of Galapagos strongly rejects this type of attitude from a sector that seeks to ignore an approved Ecuadorian law of the Republic. The population criticizes the constant attacks and offenses that the Mr. Caesar Rohon has made to Galápagos. It is especially insulting to the people of Galapagos that he claims the industry is only catching tuna, and in a sustainable manner, yet the fisheries also catch sharks, manta rays, sea lions, and marine turtles in their nets.

USERS OF THE MARINE RESERVE AND THE COMMUNITY OF GALAPAGOS