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FISHERMEN ARE DEMANDING THE USE OF LONG LINE FISHING IN THE GALAPAGOS MARINE RESERVE

El Comercio (June 4, 2004)

Long Line fishing is not selective, and as per preliminary data, the capture of sharks is high. The fishermen are threatening with new strikes.

Within the Galapagos Marine Reserve only artisan fishing is allowed, divided by zones and with regulated ways of fishing.

The last strike of the Galapagos fishermen was motivated by their demand to overrule the Fishing Regulations in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. But this is not their only demand. They also want the authorization to use Long Line fishing. This method of fishing consists of a line with thousands of hooks. The main objection against this way of fishing is the capture of sharks (a protected species in the Marine Reserve).
Five inspection trips have been taken in order to obtain information regarding the impact of this type of long-line fishing in the Reserve. The results, which are the cause of worry for the conservationists, is the high number of incidental fishing, composed of species that are not the object of the fisherman, such as sharks. As per preliminary data, incidental fishing fluctuates between 30 and 85 percent of the captures.

The fishermen have declared that "before the declaration of the area as a protected zone, they already used the method of long-line fishing".

 
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