Public Project
Green Peace- Galápagos
From Galápagos to Panama: my journey to help ratify the Global Ocean Treaty
The Galápagos Islands are located in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, a rich area that forms an underwater superhighway for migratory species, like whales, rays, sea turtles and sharks. This area extends through the national jurisdictions of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador, which in 2004 created the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR); an intergovernmental initiative that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in this corridor.However, one section of this marine corridor remains unprotected as it is on the High Seas, outside the jurisdiction of any country. Greenpeace sailed there to document the presence of marine life around two seamounts, to compare the rich biodiversity in the Galápagos Marine Reserve to the surrounding unprotected High Seas, showcase the benefits of strong marine protection and to support the urgent ratification of the historic Global Ocean Treaty. The treaty aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (i.e. the high seas). It can be used to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030 (30×30) through establishing networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the High Seas.
By Ruth Ramos Photographs by Johis Alarcón/ Panos Pictures
For Green Peace
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