Artisanal fishing within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR) is more than just a source of income—it is the livelihood of more than 500 families and an essential part of the islands' culture including hotels, cruise ships, restaurants and feeding local people. Yet, this vital tradition is under increasing pressure from the combined impacts of El Niño and climate change, which threaten marine biodiversity and the local economy. Drawing on insights from the recent scientific publication “An Overview of the Socioecological Impacts of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Climate Change on Artisanal Fisheries in the Galápagos”, co-authored by our Principal Investigator Jorge Ramírez, we explore how these threats affect local fisheries and what actions are needed to secure a more sustainable future.

Microeledone galapagensis, a tiny blue octopus discovered 1,770 meters beneath the waters of Galápagos, highlights how much remains unknown about the deep sea. Its identification as a new species was made possible by years of preservation in the Charles Darwin Foundation’s marine collections, underscoring their importance for scientific research.

The CDF joins the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge to Implement Community-Based Monitoring and Safeguard Island Ecosystems

Ecologically, the ocean is one interconnected system. Yet international law has divided it into arbitrary maritime zones based on geopolitical interests. Our research seeks to improve transnational ocean governance and conservation outcomes in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, through collaboration with scientists, academics, practitioners, and decision-makers.

The Charles Darwin Foundation’s 2025 Impact Report highlights a year of scientific discoveries, conservation milestones, ecological restoration, and institutional growth across Galápagos. From species recoveries to new research infrastructure and large-scale restoration efforts, discover how science, collaboration, and local capacity are shaping a more resilient future for the archipelago.

A groundbreaking study across seven marine protected areas in the Eastern Tropical Pacific reveals thriving shark and predator populations in remote island MPAs like Galapagos and Malpelo, while coastal reserves are severely depleted. Discover what this means for ocean protection, why it matters, and the urgent actions scientists recommend.

From the Galapagos, the Charles Darwin Foundation issues a science-driven manifesto to UNOC 3 delegates, pressing for robust global policies that conserve marine biodiversity, stop IUU fishing, enforce sustainable tourism, and spark regenerative blue economies that secure ocean health and human prosperity.

A new regional alliance is opening a window into the deep ocean of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, one of the least explored parts of our planet. By joining scientific expertise, conservation action, and international collaboration, this initiative aims to generate the knowledge needed to better protect vast marine ecosystems and inform ocean stewardship.

Silky shark's record-breaking migration of more than 27,000 km on the Tropical Eastern Pacific sheds light on urgent conservation need