Two spotted eagle rays swimming low over the reef in search of food. Image was taken at Wolf island, Galapagos islands, Ecuador. Photo Credit: by wildestanimal via Getty Images
Environment EcuadorFour Marine Protected Areas Expand and Merge to Better Protect Sea Life
Four Latin American countries have decided to join their respective marine protected areas to create an interconnected one, thus giving a better chance for ocean diversity to thrive in the Pacific Ocean.
“Just as all the world leaders here have called for action not words, I believe this is a concrete action on behalf of Ecuador that goes beyond any words we can say here,” says Guillermo Lasso, Ecuador’s president. “This is a sovereign decision of the Ecuadorian government but I have to point out that it is the result of five months of dialogue, which we’ve held with small-scale and industrial fishermen. For that reason I don’t expect any problem of rejection or protest because it is a consensual decision.”
Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Colombia have created the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR), a fishing-free area covering more than 500,000 sq km, thus protecting an important migratory route for sharks, rays, sea turtles, and whales. Colombia is adding 160,000 sq km to its protected marine area that already covers 120,000 sq km. As for Ecuador, the country is augmenting its 133,000 sq km Galápagos marine reserve by 60,000 sq km.
