http://www.galapagospark.orgLatest newsEnglish http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=580
The program will start at Fisherman's dock in Pelican Bay, Puerto Ayora, a site that concentrates a large number of pelicans, DGNP so the local community informed the capture and handling them, is framed within the project and will be performed by trained and experienced in handling birds, using techniques previously tested in the Galapagos and elsewhere, pose no risk to the pelicans, or changes in behavior.

Technicians capture the pelicans, the cases handled in, take your weight and morphometric data, evaluate health status, taking samples of blood samples and marked with a plastic ring safe for their welfare. Handling the maximum time will be approximately 5 minutes.

Collected samples will be analyzed to detect the possible presence of blood parasites, causing disease and know the genetic history of marked individuals.

The pelicans at the Fisherman's pier area have much interaction with human activities on the island, so that the information collected will be useful for making management decisions to protect this species in the archipelago.

One of the most important visitation rules to be observed in the Galapagos, is to not touch or feed the animals, which is why the Galapagos National Park emphasizes that the work will take place at Fisherman's pier at Pelican Bay, will be executed by expert technicians. ]]> http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=578
With the new model to be implemented, there will be a structure according to the needs of protected area management, adapting to the conservation objectives set out in the Management Plan and in the institutional scheme of the Ecuadorian State. Moreover, deconcentration processes in the Technical Offices of San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana, which will improve service to users.

This process of restructuring entails great changes, great challenges. One of them, perhaps most importantly, is the institutional strengthening of the human talent, through a staff training plan and incentives.

The new model will be adopted by the DGNP optimize, rationalizing and to reclassify the human talent which counts the institution and place each officer in the proper place, responding to the needs of the institution, professional training, their experience , their abilities and skills demonstrated. This the restructuring process will create new jobs, but others should be optimized to not respond to institutional needs.

It is very important for the conservation and sustainable development of the archipelago have a stronger institution for effective and efficient management of protected areas of Galapagos.]]> http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=577
In the monitoring sample was achieved over 1700 individuals of all ages and when scientists at Yale University as part of its commitments to the Galapagos National Park through the memorandum of understanding between these two institutions, performed the genetic analysis Pinta tortoises for, surprisingly, they found dozens of turtles with different percentages of genes Chelonoidis elephantopus the species was declared extinct on Floreana Island for over 150 years.

"In some cases hybrid individuals were found high in the Floreana lineage genes, which probably makes us suppose that there is one or a few parents from Floreana and are now living somewhere on Wolf volcano on Isabela Island. We are now exploring the possibility of starting a captive breeding program to revive the species and repopulate Floreana tortoises of the island themselves. " said Washington Tapia, head of the Department of Conservation and Sustainable Development.

Documentary evidence at the time of the whalers and pirates, the crew of the ships carrying tortoises of different islands as a food source for their long voyages and wore some areas compared to Wolf Volcano as places of rest before leaving the islands and by overloading probably many turtles were left on this site, so eventually, became a place where you compiled tortoises of different species of the archipelago. Although the presence of pirates and whalers was disastrous for the islands, one of the following are now allowed turtle hybrids with genes of the species on Floreana.

In there were 14 species of Galapagos giant tortoises. Two of them, the island Floreana and Santa Fe, disappeared from human predation, and more, Fernandina Island volcanic eruptions. The other eleven are spread throughout the archipelago and thanks to captive breeding programs today their populations are recovering.
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Immediately, the Galapagos National Park Service established the administrative process 107-2011, to judge this violation based on the Codification of the Law of Forestry and Conservation of Natural Areas and Wildlife and the Law on Special Regime for the Conservation and Development Sustainable Galapagos Province.

Finally, after offering the guarantees of due process and fulfill the right to defense by the accused, the Director of the Galapagos National Park, Edwin Naula, considering the existence of an infringement, decided to declare responsibility to: Mr. Joseph Byron Mera Zambrano Victoria Yolanda Bailon Palma (owners of the b / p Reina del Cisne), Jose Manuel Castro Alvarado, Eulogio Gilberto Marín Avila, Julio Cesar Anchundia Chalen, Geovanni Hernandez Odis Mero, Hugo Ignacio Chóez Espinar, Sigifredo Leiton Zuñiga, Juvenal Pablo Miranda Loor, Ramon Cedeno Cristóbal López, Félix Chonillo Arturo Ponce, Ramon Reyes Isacio Murillo, Ronald Ramon Zambrano Medranda, Yuli Dario Sornoza Toala, a very serious offense, punishable by a fine of one thousand general minimum living wage to everyone, with a term of 15 days to cancel at the Treasury Department of the GNPS.

In addition, it ordered the seizure of the vessel Reina del Cisne with registration No. P-02-00092, with all its equipment and gear, as well as fiber F / M-registered Swan Queen of B-04-05222 , F / M Child Kike-registered B-04-07075.

The Galapagos Marine Reserve was created by the Special Law for Galapagos and it was determined the prohibition of industrial fishing activity, it being reserved for artisanal fishermen and boats in the islands. Within the protected area is expressly prohibited the capture, marketing and movement of sharks, and the use of so-called longline fishing gear.]]> http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=574
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On 30 December, the season ended in Galapagos spiny red and green lobster fishery, within the marine protected area. A total of 41.38 metric tons seized of this marine product lines.

Fisheries Management Component Process Conservation and Rational Use of Marine Ecosystems of the Galapagos National Park Service reported that the volume of catch per landing ports were 16.15 tons in Isabela, San Cristóbal 15.79 and 9 , 44 tons in Santa Cruz, lobster tails between red and green.

During the period of the fishery is held 61.68 pounds of lobster that did not meet the minimum size of capture or who were with traces of eggs, a leading management measures adopted by the environmental authority to ensure sustainable fisheries.

Records show that at this lobster fishery 408 fisher men actively participated in 164 small and bigger boats.

Initially, based on the agreements reached by the Participatory Management Board of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, the GNPS authorized the start of the lobster fishery from September 20 for a period of 120 days or up to share allowable catch of 22 tons of red lobster tail and 6 green lobster tail fee that was completed just two months from the beginning of the fishing season.

In view of this, heeding the request of the artisanal fisheries sector and considering the apparent recovery of the resource, the Board met again Participatory Management and agreed to increase the quota from 22 to 32 tons of red lobster tail and 6 to 10 the green lobster tail and change the ending date of the fishery, to December 30, 2011.

This agreement was accepted by the Galapagos National Park, which reopened lobster fishing from December 1 having almost completed the additional catch quota on December 30, so that the fishing season ended on that date and during these days the latest guidelines will be issued mobilization for the product transfer to the mainland.
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This program starts with the installation of camps in the main beaches where sea turtles nest on the islands, sites where the scientific, technical and foreign volunteers, national and local daily collect information on population trends and reproductive aspects of reptiles, as well as the effects caused by anthropogenic factors, such as fisheries and environmental and climate change.

In this new period of monitoring, which will last approximately 5 months, has improved the monitoring methodology and strategy, and included parameters for making information regarding the potential impacts of weather events like the El Niño phenomenon and Climate Change; climate is intended to be monitored, in addition, the structure of the beaches.

Sea turtles are endangered species due to their vulnerability from the effects of human activities. The Galapagos Islands is one of the main nesting sites of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Eastern Pacific.

The implementation of this monitoring program is in force for over ten years, has allowed to monitor the reproductive activity of this species and assess their population in the archipelago. Currently, the Galapagos National Park Service is the focal point to the Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (CIT).

]]> http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=571 definitely the illegal construction of a hotel in Punta Estrada and
punished by a fine of two hundred and consolidated a basic salary, which
equivalent to $ 52,800, to Mauricio Ponce, legal representative of the
Company PONCA. S.A., owner of the building, for not counting
previously with the corresponding environmental license and have
occasionally affects the natural protected area.

Additionally, it was resolved that the company through its representative
legal plan must submit a complete environmental remediation emerging
including the evaluation of damage to the environment and
award amounts for people and communities affected
attached to the art. 396 second paragraph of the Constitution of the Republic of
Ecuador.

PONCA company began construction of a building in Punta Estrada,
on Santa Cruz Island, with municipal permits for housing construction, without
However, the dimensions and characteristics of it, made ??up of 26
rooms, like a hotel, for which they must have the
permits. The hotel was commercialized in the internet with the
name of "Palo Santo Spa".]]> http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=570 http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=569
Among the topics taught was the exhibition of the Draft Solid Waste Management, its beginnings, financing and results obtained in these 18 months of implementation. Also reported the importance of home-based classification, the spread of this practice within the community, environmental education activities have been implemented to improve knowledge, environmental values in our daily living, among other topics.

Teachers are an important target group for the propagation of messages as they replicate the knowledge that the students acquired in the workshop.

Such activities seek community awareness for the implementation and improvement of environmental practices that will contribute to the conservation of the Galapagos Islands.
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Immediately began efforts to mitigate the scourge, with the help of airport officials and the use of the Firefighter car, on fortunately the fire was controlled around 16:00.

Officials at the Galapagos National Park Service, monitored the area and found small fires in an area of approximately 1.6 hectares', so we proceeded to run off and preventive measures for possible future reactivation of fire and possibilities to avoid its spreading to other areas of the island .

"We presume that the fire was caused by the dispersion of airborne particles on, from the controlled burning of waste that is taking place at a nearby site," said Christian Sevilla, head of conservation and restoration process of Island Ecosystems of the GNPS.

The vegetation of the area is dry so benefited the spread of fire. Monitoring conducted by the GNPS preliminarily determined that the fire affected the dominant vegetation of the area which is a type of grass, and some individuals Trees of Parkinsonia, Palo Santo, also estimated an impact on the area endemic invertebrates like ants and grasshoppers. No land iguanas have been reported dead.

The next day, the GNPS staff toured the area of the flagellum to confirm that there is no evidence of possible reactivation of the fire.

Baltra Island is about 2500 hectares. He joined the National System of Protected Areas, in accordance with Executive Order 1784 of June 15, 2009.]]> http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=567
In the Islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Española shall be permitted lobster catches from small boats (pangas and small fibers glass boast). In the case of Isabela Island are allowed to operate only small vessels and the B / P Don Guido and B / P San Jose, who were the only assets to port in Isabela during the two months of fishing for lobster that recently culminated due to the difficulty of access to small boats to the fishing coves away from Puerto Villamil. Is not authorized fishing activity in this island to any other larger vessel (boat).

Additionally, the capture of the green lobster is permitted only in Isabela and the activity of green lobster in the Bolivar Canal Zone is prohibited. The rules of marketing, monitoring, size and other specifications laid down in Resolution No.50-2011 of the Galapagos National Park Service are maintained and are unchanged.
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Fisheries Management Component Process Conservation and Rational Use of Marine Ecosystems of the Galapagos National Park Service, GNPS, said that even today capture was recorded 22,497 kilos of lobster red lobster 6020 kilos of green, with which according to the conditions set forth in resolution No. 050 of the Galapagos National Park, close the lobster fishery in the archipelago.

During this season, which lasted two months (four were allowed), there were 150 boats and 380 fishermen doing the activity, levels similar to those of 2010, the year in which fewer resources are captured despite five months developed fishery.

"The lobster fishery is developed normally. At the institutional level did the same analysis, determining that the CPUE (calculated per unit of effort) was 6.2 compared to 5.8 in 2010 and higher than previous years. The resource denoted a significant recovery confirming that proper management of fisheries in the Galapagos Marine Reserve allows the sustainability of fisheries resources, "explains Mario Villalta, Process Manager Conservation and Rational Use of Marine Ecosystems of the GNPS.

After this deadline, the bigger boats or boats that are doing the lobster fishing activity, have two days to return to their respective ports and five traders to market the product.
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During the period of work for the implementation of SIMAVIS, has worked in various management aspects of site visits and visitors, which is redefining the acceptable load of Visitors (CAV) for each site visit and the itineraries of the waterway cruise ships, among other instruments made and in operation since the beginning of the process. .

The meeting held last November 11 in the city of Quito, was to reunite all the different operators and travel agencies that sell the operation navigable in the islands, with the technical team of the GNPS, in order to strengthen the process of information exchange and communication, ensuring a better understanding of the industry and their involvement in it.

From December 2009 to date, the management team of the tourist and ECOLAP GNPS has held successive meetings and workshops and individual sectors, covering all tourism operations. These meetings have been building new tourist routes considering both the requirements of management, conservation and quality of visited Web sites to visit, and the characteristics of logistics and tourism demand for the different operations.

The new visitation order involves ensuring compliance with the load numbers of visitors (CAV) visit sites under acceptable ranges of quality and protection of natural and cultural heritage present in them, avoiding overloading and concentration of visitors in these unique places in the archipelago.

For this, the tour boats have a schedule previously agreed between the parties, which distributes visits to different sites, considering a repetition rate of 15 days site. This means that vessels may not visit the same place every week as they did until now, but it made every two weeks. This allows all the boats in the fleet sailed a chance to visit all the sites without having to bring the site to an overload condition of visitors. This does NOT mean that tourists have to compulsorily take a cruise of 15 days, but can also cruises of a week as the ships' itineraries include replacement of passengers at different airports at least once a the week.

Although many boats have been adding the new model during 2011, a total of 24, as agreed at previous meetings for the day February 1, 2012, date of renewal of patents tourist operation, all vessels Cruise waterways shall operate under the new requirements of model schedules. The approach of the end date of the commissioning process, encourages the celebration of such events to clear up any confusion about it.

This date marks a milestone for conservation and tourism management for the Galapagos National Park, because for the first time in history, with great effort by all sectors, it would provide technical parameters respect the management of visitors to tourist sites . This does not mean that management efforts end up here, as we will continue to closely monitor to resolve any unforeseen, and especially working with guides and tour operators, ultimately responsible for actually handling the technical measures implemented have a positive result on the quality of the experience and the maintenance of good conservation. .

Finally, we have to extend special thanks to all tour operators for their effort and cooperation with the management and conservation of our Natural Heritage of Humanity.
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This meeting will be held in the city of Quito, in the Convention Center Auditorium Eugenio Espejo, on 11 November from 08h30. In this event have been invited tour operators and travel agencies in the country.

Since 2009 it began to raise a new model for Galapagos tourism management, called the Visitor Management System (SIMAVIS), same as, among other things, raises the implementation of 15-day itineraries for cruise ships waterway, and representing environmental, economic and management.

"For this new model DGNP contributes to an optimal schedule of the entire fleet management operating tourism in the GMR. In this new model have been set up to 4 times for spare passenger vessels comply itineraries of 15 days. "Said Eddie Araujo, head of the Tourism Administration Process the DGNP.


DGNP = Direction of the Galapagos National Park
GMR = Galapagos Marine Reserve]]>