:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/LRJWUJBD5ZGFDIYI7N7ZYUWZAQ.jpg "Ecuador will declare the first eight miles of its maritime coastline as a protected reserve 1")
The President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lassoand other government authorities announced the decision to declare as marine reserve up to the first eight coastal nautical miles of mainland Ecuador, to ensure the protection of mangrove ecosystems, reefs, corals, underwater ridges, islands and islets and underwater canyons; in addition to protecting the country’s iconic species such as the humpback whale, mantas, rays, sharks and four of the seven species of sea turtles in the world.
According to official information released on the new marine reserve, its area will be approximately 1.5 million hectares.
In addition to the marine reserve, the authorities have announced that, as part of the protective measures, they will work with thousands of artisanal fishermenso that its fishing modality incorporates conservation parameters, “thus promoting the bioeconomy and strengthening the sustainability of this sector”.
Currently, the Organic Law for the Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries of Ecuador, in its article 104, establishes that the artisanal fishing zone is “included within eight nautical miles measured from the line of low tide along the mainland coast of Ecuador out to sea”. This regulation,prohibits industrial fishing activity” in this domain.
However, artisanal fishermen and environmental activists have denounced the non-respect of this rule, since industrial fishing boats carry out their work in these eight nautical miles. This intrusion resulted in fewer and fewer fish resources in the region.
The announcement was part of Our Ocean 2023, in Panama, an event that brings together the international community specializing in the protection of the ocean, to present their commitments to action in favor of the protection of marine biodiversity. There, President Guillermo Lasso, through a video, pointed out that with this new marine reserve, the Ecuador will guarantee the planet the protection of the most representative species of the Pacific Ocean, maintain the balance and health of bioaquatic ecosystems and provide the scientific community with better knowledge of this area: “We are the first country in the world to preserve its coastal profile within the first 8 miles. Ecuador has taken the first step and we hope other countries will join us and follow suit,” he said.
The event also brought together the Ministers of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, Gustave Manrique; production, foreign trade, investment and fisheries, Julio Jose Prado; and the Deputy Foreign Minister, Louis Vayas.
consulted by GlobeLiveMedia, the Ministry of the Environment referred to the changes on the type of fishing allowed in the area that will occur with the new declaration. According to the entity, artisanal fishing will be authorized “but by declaring it a Reserve, actions will be multiplied to ensure that only artisanal fishing is practiced, in addition to working with artisanal fishermen to improve their processes and make them more sustainable”.
Minister Manrique said that “Ecuador is once again becoming a reference for the world” with this declaration and after having created the Brotherhood Marine Reserve in the Galapagos Islands, which included a conservation consensus to protect the migratory routes of sharks and sea turtles between Ecuador and Costa Rica: “With this conservation area, the protection of up to 90% of the habitat of the giant manta ray, 52% of the blue shark and the nesting and breeding grounds of species vital to the health of the ocean and the sustainability of our resources will be respected,” he explained.
Despite the fact that the Hermandad Marine Reserve was created in January 2022, it there is no management plan for the protected area.
The Minister Julio Jose PradoFor his part, he stressed that the declaration is a clear example of the vision of conservation in which the national government and artisanal fishers come together: “We aim to be a global benchmark for sustainable fishing, demonstrating the commitment to implement responsible practices and move towards the bioeconomy,” he said.
This Reserve is added to the 7.7 million hectares of the National System of Protected Areas declared in this government with the aim of guaranteeing the effective conservation of the national natural and aquatic heritage. There are a total of 27.5 million hectares nationwide, according to the Ministry of Environment in a statement.
Continue reading: