New marine reserve in the eastern Pacific

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso announced at the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in early November 2021 that the Galapagos Marine Protected Area, which currently covers 133,000 sq km, will be expanded by an additional 60,000 sq km. The new area includes Cocos Ridge, an underwater mountain range, and merges with Costa Rica’s protected marine area. The new protected area in Ecuadorian waters is going to be divided into two parts: in the area along the Cocos Ridges, any fishing will be prohibited. In the other 30,000 sq. km, adjacent to the northwest of the existing Galapagos protected area, only fishing without longlines would be allowed.

Lasso does not expect any rejection or protests from small-scaled and industrial fishing companies, as he has been in dialogue with them for several months before the climate conference.

Colombia’s President Iván Duque announced his intention to add another 160,000 square kilometers to the existing protected area of 120,000 square kilometers.

Panama had already quintupled the area of its “Cordillera de Coiba” marine protected area in June 2021 as part of the “30×30” initiative. It now measures 98,230 sq km.

The increase in the size of the protected areas of the individual countries is of course significant for the protection of species. Far more important, however, is their joining together, according to British marine biologist Alex Hearn, who worked for many years on the Galapagos Islands. He describes the waters around the Galapagos, Malpelo, Cocos and Coiba Islands as a living laboratory for scientific research. He has noticed that populations of many migratory species have declined significantly this century, including sea turtles, rays and sharks, particularly the critically endangered hammerhead sharks.

The corridor created with the merger of the protected areas will allow species to migrate unimpeded again

The designation of the new marine protected area is indeed an important and right step for the protection of one of the most valuable ecosystems in the world. But various environmental organizations and Max Bello, marine policy advisor for the NGO Mission Blue are calling for further action. He says “With this agreement, Latin America once again consolidates its leadership in marine conservation, but more is needed. We hope to achieve at least 30% of protection in all [maritime] countries.”