OCTOBER 2020
In the Galápagos Islands
OCTOBER 2
The Chinese fishing fleet went from Galapagos to Peru and now goes to Chile
Several hundred ships are located 390 nautical miles from the exclusive economic zone of the Andean country, after passing through Ecuadorian and Peruvian coasts. The risk to species and the costs to the region of uncontrolled fishing
OCTOBER 5
The secrets of the “giant daisies” in Galapagos revealed
The current fifteen “Scalesia” species, all unique to the Galapagos Islands, would have diversified rapidly from a common ancestor in “more recent” times, probably in the last million years.
OCTOBER 6
Illegal fishing: the great threat to Latin America’s marine sanctuariesThe Chinese fleet that encircled Galapagos devastates the sea and evades regulations. Coverage in Spanish from Mongabay Latam is available here.
OCTOBER 8
HawkEye 360 Satellite System Tracked Chinese Activity near Galapagos.Satellite operator contradicts Chinese ambassador on fleet’s AIS blackouts
Oceana Report: Chinese Fishing Vessels Disabled Their Tracking Devices Off Galapagos
New evidence suggests China’s ‘dark’ vessels poached in Galápagos waters
OCTOBER 9
Researchers study the invasive frog’s role in Galapagos food webA study developed by Frank Bungartz , renowned lichenologist at Arizona State University and associate researcher with the National Institute of Biodiversity (Inabio) of Ecuador, determined 34 species of lichens of the genera Lecanora, Protoparmeliopsis and Vainionora as part of the Galapagos inventory. (Photo Courtesy: Inabio)
Research indicates that of the 34 species, 14 are new to science : Lecanora atroocellata, L. cactacea, L. cerebriformis, L. cerebrosorediata, L. confusoides, L. darwiniana, L. kalbii, L. malagae, L. ombligulata , L. pyrrhosporoides, L. subaureoides, L. terpenoidea, Protoparmeliopsis ertzii and Vainionora nugrae.
OCTOBER 16
The tiny flying mammal of the Galapagos Islands that has scientists on their headsThe research, carried out by the universities of Idaho, Tennessee, Technical Particular of Loja (UTPL); and the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park, began with captures in the Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal islands and contemplates others in Floreana and Isabela.
Although it has already been proven that the Mar Tropical de Grau reserve has extraordinary biodiversity, the area has not managed to be protected due to the fact that oil fields operate in it. Experts maintain that although the declaration of the Dorsal de Nasca reserve is important and necessary, it does not replace the proposal to protect the Tropical Sea of Grau.
During the United Nations Biodiversity Summit that was held last September, the Peruvian president, Martín Vizcarra, announced that the Nasca Dorsal National Reserve will be created before the end of 2020. In this way, Peru will create its own first purely marine protected natural area and will go from having 0.47% of its sea protected, the lowest percentage of all the countries of Latin America, to protecting almost 8% of its territorial sea. This is an outstanding debt of Peru, considering that this year is the deadline for the countries that signed the Strategic Plan for Biological Diversity, which includes the Aichi Goals, to protect at least 10% of their maritime territory.
OCTOBER 25
Editorial: China and the marine reserveOCTOBER 25
The Galapagos Sees Record Increase in Its Endemic Penguins and CormorantsThe estimation of the data collected during the census, based on the methodology applied more than a decade ago, reports that there are 2,290 flightless cormorants and 1,940 penguins in the main colonies located on the Isabela and Fernandina islands and Marielas islets, in the west of the Galapagos archipelago , indicated the GNPD.
The giant tortoises are of the Chelonoidis guntheri species and belong to the population of the Cazuela sector.
OCTOBER 27
Graphic History: The Chinese fleet that encircled Galapagos. Read an in-depth history of the Chinese fleet from Mongabay Latam here.
SOS Galápagos | #sosgalapagos 