Use and misuse of the seas around the Galápagos Archipelago

Abstract

Although the Galapagos Islands were first colonized over 160 years ago, the major impact on the marine resources by local fishermen has occurred only during the last 40–45 years. During this period, and especially more recently, a lack of attention to the largely uncontrolled fishery has led to confusion, a conflict of interests, and a series of inapplicable laws and regulations. Changing markets, exploding human populations, and a new approach to marine resource exploitation, with minimum investment and maximum expectation, has led to a chaotic situation in which neither the fishermen nor the Galapagos National Park will ultimately benefit.