18 NGOs and civil society organisations have today published a statement calling for the governments of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama to ratify the UN High Seas Treaty in order to accelerate the protection of the oceans.

18 NGOs and civil society organisations have today published a statement calling for the governments of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama to ratify the UN High Seas Treaty in order to accelerate the protection of the oceans.

The Eastern Tropical Pacific conceals extraordinary, vast deep-ocean ecosystems, plunging from oceanic islands to depths of 3,800 meter, most of which remain largely unexplored, presenting real challenges for effective protection and management. Despite their significance, these ecosystems are poorly understood and subject to persistent threats, including overfishing, climate change, pollution, and the prospect for deep-sea mining.

The Eastern Tropical Pacific conceals extraordinary, vast deep-ocean ecosystems, plunging from oceanic islands to depths of 3,800 meter, most of which remain largely unexplored, presenting real challenges for effective protection and management. Despite their significance, these ecosystems are poorly understood and subject to persistent threats, including overfishing, climate change, pollution, and the prospect for deep-sea mining.

Scientists have discovered extensive, ancient deep-sea coral reefs within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR) – the first of their kind ever to be documented inside the marine protected area (MPA) since it was established in 1998. The first reef observed was found at 400-600m (1,310-1,970 feet) depth at the summit of a previously unmapped seamount in the central part of the archipelago and supports a breathtaking mix of deep marine life.

Scientists have discovered extensive, ancient deep-sea coral reefs within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR) – the first of their kind ever to be documented inside the marine protected area (MPA) since it was established in 1998. The first reef observed was found at 400-600m (1,310-1,970 feet) depth at the summit of a previously unmapped seamount in the central part of the archipelago and supports a breathtaking mix of deep marine life.

While the Galapagos remains one of the best-managed destinations, with exponential visitor growth, tourism continues to impact this delicate ecosystem. We are studying how to make tourism in Galapagos more sustainable, in a way that reduces the impact on Galapagos’ fragile ecosystems while continuing to benefit the local community.

While the Galapagos remains one of the best-managed destinations, with exponential visitor growth, tourism continues to impact this delicate ecosystem. We are studying how to make tourism in Galapagos more sustainable, in a way that reduces the impact on Galapagos’ fragile ecosystems while continuing to benefit the local community.