The Galapagos Islands are one of the most beautiful and unique places in the world to visit. Charles Darwin created his Theory of Evolution right here from the diverse wild animals, breathtaking scenery, and rich history. Heck, prior to our research, the Galapagos Islands was at the top of our bucket list. On the surface, the waters are protected, the marine species are plentiful, and tourism is booming. So why then, was it listed as one of 2018’s top places not to go? What’s the problem? 

Before we dive in…

The Galapagos Islands, an archipelago province located 1,000 km west of Ecuador, is one of the most unique places in the world.

So much so, that 20% of its marine species cannot be found anywhere else. Tourists come from all over the globe to swim with the sharks, play with the seals, and if lucky, have a chance to see the world’s only true marine iguana. A variety of different marine animals like sharks, manta rays, sea lions, fur seals, sea turtles, and a huge variety of reef fishes are often guaranteed on diving and snorkeling excursions. Located at where several major ocean currents meet, the Galapagos Islands may be the only place in the world that is home to marine species from tropical, temperate, and sub-Antarctic seas all in one location. That is why the Galapagos Islands became a priceless living laboratory by scientists and researchers who come from all around the world to study these rare species.

The Galapagos Marine Reserve

The Galapagos Islands and the waters surrounding it are heavily protected, with 95% of the waters designated as a “protected area”.In 1998, the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) was created to protect the marine biodiversity in the Galapagos Islands. It restricted fishing only by local permanent residents and allowed a joint effort in the local management of the marine biodiversity. At 133,000 km2, the GMR is one of the largest and most biodiverse marine protected areas (MPA) in the world.  

So how then, does the actual state of the biodiversity, environment, tourism industry, and economy square up to the opinion of tourists? How has tourism become a threat to one of the most important and biodiverse places in the world? A statement we received from the world famous  Dr. Daniel Pauly accurately outlines our transition into this section regarding the reality of the GMR and how it differs from perception: 

“The Galapagos advertise themselves as pristine. [One of] the major species, a grouper, is now red-listed. Major species that sustained the fisheries in the ’50s or ’60s are [no longer present]. But [the Galapagos Islands are] still declared as “pristine”. What does that even mean?” (Dr. Daniel Pauly, personal communication, 26 March 2019)

We believe that it is this very perception of the Galapagos Islands’ unique and unparalleled biodiversity on the islands and the surrounding waters that have caused the massive tourist boom over the last 30 years.

 

Tourism in the Galapagos

Ecuador, which is the governing state of the Galapagos Islands, was and is considered one of the poorest countries in South America. The pristine marine environment in the Galapagos Islands is a huge draw for tourists, and its international fame driving the continued growth of the tourism industry is the “socioeconomic engine” for the local economy. In 2015 alone, the Galapagos Islands hosted over 224,000 tourists. That is 12 times more than compared to 1980! Tourism now holds ⅓ of the job market and is responsible for nearly 70% of the local economy. Due to the tourism industry boom, the standard of living in the Galapagos has increased substantially, making it a desirable place for business owners, tourism operators, and tourists alike.

The Impact of Tourism  

With the increase in tourism and economic boom in the Galapagos Islands over the last 40 years has also caused huge need for more development and expansion. Although the tourism boom might seem like a good thing, the Galapagos economy has only received 15% of the profits that come from the industry.  That’s not enough! This also means that 85% of the income, nearly US$355 million, went to overseas big companies without ever helping the locals. In Galapagos history, there has never been a good management plan for tourists, meaning there is an ever-expanding limit on how many people can visit the islands year to year. As more and more come to the islands, the infrastructure to maintain the increasing number of tourists has struggled to keep up. As time goes on, more and more studies are finding that the tourism industry in the Galapagos Islands is not sustainable to maintain the current biodiversity. This means animals in the Galapagos are hurting from the ever-growing tourists. There are habitat destruction, waste production, resource depletion, the introduction of invasive species. As tourism increases, so do the threats and impact on the environment. The natural beauty of the islands that draw hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, might be lost to from the very thing that draws tourists.

What is Needed from the Government

To make sure that tourism in the Galapagos Islands does not continue to grow out of control, the government and legislative bodies need to make sure that new policies and management plans for the tourism industry are a must. The Galapagos Islands needs a concrete, structured, and long-term plan for the management of tourism set in place by the government and enforced by legislation. Having policies to restrict the number of tourists, as well as overseas big companies investing in more development, is crucial for protecting these animals and local people’s well-being of the islands in the long term.

What You Can Do

         Ask Yourself Why You’re Going

Before you plan your dream vacation to the Galapagos Islands, ask yourself why you are going. Is it to experience the beauty and nature of such a unique place? Or is it because of a travel trend that led you to want a selfie with a giant tortoise? Figure out if you’re comfortable living in local places that may not be as comfortable as your bed at home, or eating food you’ve never tried before. Taking a minute to find out whether or not the Galapagos Islands is a place you must visit is the first step in knowing whether or not you should go.

          Educate Yourself

If you’ve decided that the Galapagos Islands is a place you need to go, make sure to do your research before you do. Learning about the history of the Galapagos and its fragile ecosystem is a great place to start. Information about how to make your trip as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible is available to you, and making sure that you follow it as closely as possible will make your trip as eco-friendly as possible.

          Stay Locally, Live Locally

When choosing your accommodation, try to look for local business owners and on-land accommodation rather than big chain hotels and cruise ship options. Not only are cruise ships horrible for the environment, but they also take away from the local economy and residents of the Galapagos Islands. Luckily, the Ecuadorian government put restrictions on the sizes of cruise vessels, ensuring that the smaller the boat, the better.  Choosing local tourism operators and guides will make sure that your money to go back to the local economy rather than overseas major companies. The more choices you can make to eat locally, stay locally, and act locally, the better.

          Minimize Your Footprint

Most importantly, be extra careful of the things you are bringing in and out of the Galapagos Islands. Following the strict rules on the things that are not allowed to enter the Galapagos is essential for avoiding the bringing invasive species to the islands, which can seriously harm the local ecosystems. Please also make sure to properly dispose of all waste and recycling and following the Galapagos Park Rules for lessening your negative impact on the islands and waters.

In recent years, the Ecuadorian government has been working hard to combat the current threats from tourism industrialization per the UNESCO recommendations.  With your informed practices when visiting the Galapagos, the islands will remain the biodiversity hotspot and produce more headlines like these – Galapagos giant tortoises make a comeback, thanks to innovative conservation strategies.

 

By Jasmine Keller and Nick Hsieh

Octopus Aquaculture on the Rise

With seafood consumption increasing and fish stocks declining around the globe, the need for alternative food sources is climbing. Aquaculture services are growing at an exponential rate, where countries such as Japan have surpassed their fisheries production with aquaculture production within the last 10 years. The recent introduction of octopus aquaculture has received backlash from animal welfare advocates and environmentalists due both to the characteristics of the species and the negative impacts that aquaculture can have on the organisms and the environment. The proponents for octopus farming emphasize that as demand increases and stocks decline, octopuses will need to be introduced to aquaculture in order to keep up with consumption. Recent technological advancements have allowed Japan and Spain to successfully begin farming octopus in increasingly larger numbers, slowly shifting the industry out of its developmental stages and possibly onto commercial production.

The Issues with Octopus Aquaculture

The negative impacts of aquaculture have been studied extensively, many indicating that the effects of aquaculture on marine ecosystems and biodiversity does more harm than good. One of the most common misconceptions about aquaculture is that by farming the species it will decrease the amount of catch being removed from the ocean. In the case of octopuses, the introduction of aquaculture will simply exacerbate demand, likely leading to an increase in consumption as octopuses become more common in everyday diet. In addition, farmed marine species are fed other fish, known as fishmeal. Approximately 30 percent of the worlds fish catch is used to produce fishmeal, and in 2010 73% of the world’s fishmeal went to aquaculture. Aquaculture does not decrease the amount of catch from the oceans; it increases it.

Along with the negative aspects of aquaculture, the octopus itself is less equipped to succeed in farming than many of the other species that are currently farmed. Research shows that octopuses have large brains and advanced levels of consciousness, displaying complex behaviours and the ability to solve problems. In addition, octopuses are intolerant of other individuals of its own species and cannot coexist with one another under traditional farming practices. Having several individuals of octopus in the same area is likely to lead to competition, aggression, and death.

But Most Importantly,

Octopus aquaculture is unnecessary. The simple fact is that octopus aquaculture is a development in the face of growing consumption, and without it, the availability of octopus will decrease. This, however, is an issue of want rather than need. Those nations that are responsible for the majority of octopus consumption, such as Japan, South Korea, northern Mediterranean countries, the United States, China, and Australia – are all food secure, meaning that they are not dependent on the consumption of octopus for sustenance or well-being. It becomes a discussion of necessity, stemming from the individual choices that people make in their day to day lives and the food they choose to put on their plates. The only reason why octopuses are facing the threat of the aquaculture industry is that individual consumption is rising.

Whether the aquaculture debate is environmental, ethical, economic, or social, it all boils down to the individual decisions of the consumers. Without demand, there is no need for supply. Making the simple decision to decrease your own octopus consumption can have a significant impact on the future of octopus aquaculture and the success of the species as a whole.

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