Ecuador detains Panamanian fishing boat in Galapagos Islands
1:00 AM
Posted: Saturday, March 01, 2008
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) -- Ecuadorean authorities have detained a Panamanian boat and its 21 crew members on suspicion of fishing illegally in the Galapagos Islands, officials said Friday.
The boat was detained on Wednesday in the Galapagos National Park marine reserve and allegedly carried false permits, the park said in a statement.
The 21-member crew had about 1,300 tons of fish on board and was being investigated for "possible environmental violations."
In a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press, the Guayaquil-based fishing company Nirsa said the fishermen were contracted by the company and were not engaging in any illicit activity.
The Galapagos Islands, 625 miles off of Ecuador's Pacific coast, are know for unique plant and animal life, including giant tortoises, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. Charles Darwin's observations of the islands' finches inspired his theory of evolution.
The United Nations is monitoring Ecuador's efforts to protect the area from environmental threats or overuse.
The boat was detained on Wednesday in the Galapagos National Park marine reserve and allegedly carried false permits, the park said in a statement.
The 21-member crew had about 1,300 tons of fish on board and was being investigated for "possible environmental violations."
In a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press, the Guayaquil-based fishing company Nirsa said the fishermen were contracted by the company and were not engaging in any illicit activity.
The Galapagos Islands, 625 miles off of Ecuador's Pacific coast, are know for unique plant and animal life, including giant tortoises, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. Charles Darwin's observations of the islands' finches inspired his theory of evolution.
The United Nations is monitoring Ecuador's efforts to protect the area from environmental threats or overuse.
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