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The giant tortoise lays its eggs in elaborately constructed nests among protective layers of soil. After the incubation period, eggs hatch and the hatchlings remain in the nest for approximately 30 days before emerging to the surface.

By mid-march, this activity should be complete and we will be able to determine the hatch rate for this nesting season.

Similar work is being carried our on the islands of Pinzón, Santiago, San Cristobal and Isabela, with the purpose of increasing the chance of survival of the hatchlings.
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Initially, the collection site was not specified. However, during the last few days these same images have appeared with captions indicating that this activity was taking place in Galapagos.

The Galapagos National Park Service clarifies that the circulated photos were taken at Playa de Ostional, in Costa Rica. Every year, more than 50,000 Golfina sea turtles arrive at that beach. Hatch rates are low, because nests are laid one on top of another, making it impossible for many of the eggs to hatch properly. Because of this situation, the Government of Costa Rica has permitted the collection of eggs through a monitored process carried out by carefully selected individuals.

In Galapagos, the sea turtle is a protected species. The principal species that nests in the archipelago is the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas). Its consumption?in any stage of its life cycle?is prohibited. There are no human population centers near the principal nesting sites. The GNPS conducts an ongoing sea turtle monitoring program which is believed to have resulted in an increase in the reproductive activity of this species.

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Immediately, the speed boat ?Sea Ranger 10?, set out from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, to intercept the violating vessel.

Approximately 38 miles south of the island Española, while sailing towards the outside of the GMR, the staff of the ?Sea Ranger 10? in joint action with Navy officials, boarded and inspected the boat ?Don Alvaro?, registration P-04-00-772, using purse seine for fishing operations, the company whose owner is GEOPAXI S.A..

The boat and point of departure was registered in the Port of Manta, on January 7, 2010, with 20 people in its crew, among them Ecuadorians, Peruvians and Colombians.

The ship and crew were escorted to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to await orders from the competent authorities.

At the port inspection, it was confirmed that the boat had six warehouses for storing fish. In one warehouse approximately fifteen tons of swordfish and ?barriletes? were calculated.

Another minor boat is detained

From Puerto Velasco Ibarra, Floreana Island, the rangers of the ?Sea Ranger 7?, and an official of the Navy, sailed to intercept a ship that was south of the island Floreana, according to data provided by the satellite monitoring base of the DGNP in Santa Cruz.

At 16 miles, park rangers found one ?espinel? (fish trolling device) of about 300 meters in the water, a device banned from use within the GMR, which was attached to the ?fibra? Anahí, with three crew on board.

The crew claimed to be part of the crew of the fishing vessel ?Andro II? of the city of Manta, but they did not provide documents.

The ?fibra? (small fiber-glass bottom boat), fishing gear and crew were transported to Puerto Velasco Ibarra, and then to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, to await orders from the authorities.

DGNP takes action

Once the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park knew of these actions and received reports from each of the control operatives, it initiated the administrative processes and places corresponding to the violations of the invasion of the protected area, as indicated in Article 68 of the Organic Law of the Special Regime for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the province of Galapagos, which refers to penalties for unauthorized fishing.
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A group of sixty management and monitoring experts in tourism activities, will control and monitor the site to assess the biological and physiological changes which occur in the ecosystem due to this type of activity.

"Over 230 people from different institutions will help to minimize potential impacts. In addition, a micro-zoning within Tortuga Bay will allow most sensitive sites in the area, which cannot be used, to avoid environmental impact, "said Edgar Muñoz, Director of the DGNP, during a press conference for local media.

For Muñoz, "this is an excellent opportunity for the DGNP to strengthen its ties with the local community, since this institution will be executing seven environmental education activities with children, youth, adults, etc., both for permanent residents and visitors, and are participants in the control and protection activities carried out throughout the year." Also the DPNG will be presented as the institution as a friend and not as an institution of control and regulation, he said.

The previous year, monitoring before, during and after the event showed a positive result, because Tortuga Bay is a beach ecologically preserved and protected by the operating entity, in this case the DPNG.

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On Monday, February 8, seven miles outside the GMR, the crew of the ?Sierra Negra? in joint action with a member of the Navy to control and patrol, boarded the "El Acuario de Dios II", and advised them that they improperly entered the protected area and should go directly to the nearest port, in this case Puerto Villamil, to await the orders of competent authorities.

The captain of the ?Sierra Negra?, notes that a bad maneuver by the captain of the captured boat, suffered a crash while anchoring in Puerto Villamil, a result of this accident caused the sinking of two planks of the hull of "El Acuario de Dios II".

In performing the inspection of the fishing boat, registered in Manta with registration P-04-00835, they found long-lines, fishing gear banned from use within the GMR, and the four ?fibras?: ?Gloria Cecibel?, unregistered; ?Jorge and Susana?, unregistered; ?Alexis Gabriel?, registration AL-04-2924; and ?Romina and Michelle?, registration B-04-05310, also had this gear and were fishing at the time of capture.

"El Acuario de Dios II", had 16 people on board, nine of which were not registered at their departure, and three of the occupants failed to submit documents and one of them was a minor.

In their storage there were 13 yellow-fin tunas, 15 swordfish and 13 sharks.

The Port Captaincy of Puerto Villamil is performing the legal actions in its capacity for naval violations incurred by this boat and the DGNP has initiated the corresponding administrative and legal processes.]]> http://www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=360
This booklet offers a variety of useful information, concerning the 70 terrestrial sites to visit in the park, with a small description of each, its flora and fauna, and also includes satellite images, with the marking of access paths to sites.

For the preparation of this brochure, the DGNP was supported by naturalist guides, who contributed with their knowledge and experience in the field. This should serve as an effective tool for the guides.

The Guide for guides, will be distributed to all GNP guides starting Monday, February 8th.
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Of the total visitors, 34% (56,766) were Ecuadorian, 27% (44,466) were from the United States, with the remainder represented in lesser percentages by 134 different nationalities.

Information provided by the tourists indicates that 81% visited protected areas of the archipelago, 14% remained in urban areas, and the others came for work or to visit family members living in the islands.

Additionally, the data show that approximately 50% of 2009 tourists visited Galapagos aboard GNP-authorized tour boats, 39% stayed in hotels, and 9% stayed with friends or relatives.

All of this information is collected through the Tourism Control Cards (TCT) which all tourists must fill out at their point of entry to Galapagos.
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The Galapagos National Park has not authorized permission to any person or group to organize a fishing tournament in the archipelago.

Sport fishing is not permitted within the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The promotion and execution of an event of this type will result in legal action of the GNP against event organizers.

The GNP is currently reviewing a request from the San Cristobal Chamber of Tourism (CAPTURCRIS) for an Experiential Artisanal Fishing tournament, but it has not authorized the event. GNP Technicians have attended meetings with officials from CAPTURCRIS and artisanal fishermen, to learn more about the request and to discuss the parameters of the proposed tournament. Experiential Artisanal Fishing is allowed within the Galapagos Marine Reserve, under certain regulations.

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