Latest Galapagos information

As of 7/20, all liveaboards in the Galapagos are suspended except for
4 boats. That's right, all the rest are outright stopped from diving
anywhere. AFAIK<-grain of salt,

The four boats still diving are:

Skydancer (PH)
Both Aggressors
Galapagos Explorer

Of those four, only three are still permitted to dive Wolf and Darwin.
The Explorer is not currently permitted but there is a good
possibility they will resume Wolf & Darwin after the dust settles. In
the meantime they have full diving priviledges throughou the rest of
the islands.

The rumors are that the closures are at the behest of the PH/Aggressor
franchise owners. Considering that both partners are well heeled
Ecuadorans with large interests in petroleum and other businesses, I
don't think those rumors are entirely without merit. Those kind of
interest often have considerable influence in goverment.

Considering the large numbers that were visiting, I think this is
overall, 'a good thing'. The Galapagos are endangered and if the
reports Ive read of 17 boats pounding the location are true, then
something had to be done, and the franchisees (though working in their
own self interest), are acting to protect the place overall. If the
park manager can't act on his own, then someone needs to push him.

Sadly, with 17 boats visiting, there is scant chance for the
Ecuadorans to schedule/sell lapses in fishing enforcement to ever-
present Asian-ese fishing vessels just offshore. I hate to be a cynic,
but poor countries have to sell the resources they have. Costa Rica
practically sells shark fin on E-bay <while charging us 35/day to
'protect' them>, so why shouldn't Ecuador cash in? In the end, I think
this is what will fix the problem; a complete redesign of the park
fees with high $/day charges for divers.

I'm sorry for the people and divers that are affected by this abrupt
change, but it will work itself out. It's not like there isn't risk
*every time* you book any liveaboard, anywhere. If you booked with a
solid operator, they'll make good one way or the other, but you're
gonna have to be patient. Dousing your operator with screaming calls,
nasty-grams, threats and hate-mail over a situation he can't control
won't help anything.

This kind of stuff happens in diving. It might be a hurricane, El
Niño, a Volcano, or a Military Coup. But it does happen and
underscores the need to think very hard before booking non-refundable
or bulk-rate air tickets.

good luck and safe diving,

bullshark

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:32:15 -0000, bullshark wrote:
> The rumors are that the closures are at the behest of the
> PH/Aggressor franchise owners. Considering that both partners are
> well heeled Ecuadorans with large interests in petroleum and other
> businesses, I don't think those rumors are entirely without merit.
> Those kind of interest often have considerable influence in
> goverment.

As do commercial fishing interests.

Other plausible reasons for this action:

- The commerical fishing interests have gotten tired of being "watched"
by "do-gooders" on dive boats.

- The commercial fishing interests felt that the park rules were being
unequally enforced. (We do hear about crackdowns on fishing from time
to time, but we do not hear about that WRT diving very often at all).

- UNESCO has threatened to strip the park of World Heritage status,
which might result in loss of a portion of the park's operating
monies.

It is not likely we'll ever know the actual motivation. Not that it
matters, anyway.

I do agree that reducing the pressure on this ecosystem is a good thing,
and necessary. But IMO stopping or reducing recreational diving isn't
the only change that is called for. Commercial fishing and land tours
should be dealt with as well. And what to do about feral goats and
other invaders?

--
Art Greenberg
artg at eclipse dot net

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:32:15 -0000, bullshark wrote:
> The rumors are that the closures are at the behest of the
> PH/Aggressor franchise owners. Considering that both partners are
> well heeled Ecuadorans with large interests in petroleum and other
> businesses, I don't think those rumors are entirely without merit.
> Those kind of interest often have considerable influence in
> goverment.

As do commercial fishing interests.

Other plausible reasons for this action:

- The commerical fishing interests have gotten tired of being "watched"
by "do-gooders" on dive boats.

- The commercial fishing interests felt that the park rules were being
unequally enforced. (We do hear about crackdowns on fishing from time
to time, but we do not hear about that WRT diving very often at all).

- UNESCO has threatened to strip the park of World Heritage status,
which might result in loss of a portion of the park's operating
monies.

It is not likely we'll ever know the actual motivation. Not that it
matters, anyway.

I do agree that reducing the pressure on this ecosystem is a good thing,
and necessary. But IMO stopping or reducing recreational diving isn't
the only change that is called for. Commercial fishing and land tours
should be dealt with as well. And what to do about feral goats and
other invaders?

--
Art Greenberg
artg at eclipse dot net

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:32:15 -0000, bullshark wrote:
> The rumors are that the closures are at the behest of the
> PH/Aggressor franchise owners. Considering that both partners are
> well heeled Ecuadorans with large interests in petroleum and other
> businesses, I don't think those rumors are entirely without merit.
> Those kind of interest often have considerable influence in
> goverment.

As do commercial fishing interests.

Other plausible reasons for this action:

- The commerical fishing interests have gotten tired of being "watched"
by "do-gooders" on dive boats.

- The commercial fishing interests felt that the park rules were being
unequally enforced. (We do hear about crackdowns on fishing from time
to time, but we do not hear about that WRT diving very often at all).

- UNESCO has threatened to strip the park of World Heritage status,
which might result in loss of a portion of the park's operating
monies.

It is not likely we'll ever know the actual motivation. Not that it
matters, anyway.

I do agree that reducing the pressure on this ecosystem is a good thing,
and necessary. But IMO stopping or reducing recreational diving isn't
the only change that is called for. Commercial fishing and land tours
should be dealt with as well. And what to do about feral goats and
other invaders?

--
Art Greenberg
artg at eclipse dot net

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:32:15 -0000, bullshark wrote:
> The rumors are that the closures are at the behest of the
> PH/Aggressor franchise owners. Considering that both partners are
> well heeled Ecuadorans with large interests in petroleum and other
> businesses, I don't think those rumors are entirely without merit.
> Those kind of interest often have considerable influence in
> goverment.

As do commercial fishing interests.

Other plausible reasons for this action:

- The commerical fishing interests have gotten tired of being "watched"
by "do-gooders" on dive boats.

- The commercial fishing interests felt that the park rules were being
unequally enforced. (We do hear about crackdowns on fishing from time
to time, but we do not hear about that WRT diving very often at all).

- UNESCO has threatened to strip the park of World Heritage status,
which might result in loss of a portion of the park's operating
monies.

It is not likely we'll ever know the actual motivation. Not that it
matters, anyway.

I do agree that reducing the pressure on this ecosystem is a good thing,
and necessary. But IMO stopping or reducing recreational diving isn't
the only change that is called for. Commercial fishing and land tours
should be dealt with as well. And what to do about feral goats and
other invaders?

--
Art Greenberg
artg at eclipse dot net

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:32:15 -0000, bullshark wrote:
> The rumors are that the closures are at the behest of the
> PH/Aggressor franchise owners. Considering that both partners are
> well heeled Ecuadorans with large interests in petroleum and other
> businesses, I don't think those rumors are entirely without merit.
> Those kind of interest often have considerable influence in
> goverment.

As do commercial fishing interests.

Other plausible reasons for this action:

- The commerical fishing interests have gotten tired of being "watched"
by "do-gooders" on dive boats.

- The commercial fishing interests felt that the park rules were being
unequally enforced. (We do hear about crackdowns on fishing from time
to time, but we do not hear about that WRT diving very often at all).

- UNESCO has threatened to strip the park of World Heritage status,
which might result in loss of a portion of the park's operating
monies.

It is not likely we'll ever know the actual motivation. Not that it
matters, anyway.

I do agree that reducing the pressure on this ecosystem is a good thing,
and necessary. But IMO stopping or reducing recreational diving isn't
the only change that is called for. Commercial fishing and land tours
should be dealt with as well. And what to do about feral goats and
other invaders?

--
Art Greenberg
artg at eclipse dot net

Art Greenberg wrote:


> And what to do about feral goats and
> other invaders?
>

In some places it's called 'open season with a bounty'.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Art Greenberg wrote:


> And what to do about feral goats and
> other invaders?
>

In some places it's called 'open season with a bounty'.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Art Greenberg wrote:


> And what to do about feral goats and
> other invaders?
>

In some places it's called 'open season with a bounty'.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Art Greenberg wrote:


> And what to do about feral goats and
> other invaders?
>

In some places it's called 'open season with a bounty'.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'