Galapagos Islands
Region: Ecuador, Eastern Pacific Type: Volcanic archipelago; pelagics, marine iguanas, sea lions Significance: UNESCO World Heritage Site; marine conservation battleground; 98 Wetpixel articles First Wetpixel coverage: 2004
Overview
The Galapagos Islands are one of the most frequently covered destinations on Wetpixel, appearing in 98 articles spanning 2004–2021. Coverage centers primarily on marine conservation — shark poaching, marine reserve expansion, and endangered species — rather than typical destination photography. The archipelago is a case study in the tension between tourism, fishing interests, and conservation.
Key subjects include hammerhead shark aggregations (Wolf and Darwin Islands), whale sharks, sea lions, marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, and giant tortoises.
Conservation
The Galapagos conservation story is one of the most contentious in the Wetpixel archive:
- 2004: Fishermen took 33 scientists hostage at Darwin Research Station and threatened to kill giant tortoises including Lonesome George ([1])
- 2007: Galapagos added to UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list due to tourism pressure and invasive species ([2])
- 2008: 53 sea lions massacred on Pinta Island ([3])
- 2011: 357 dead sharks found on an illegal fishing boat inside the reserve ([4])
- 2012: Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island giant tortoise, died at approximately 100 years old ([5])
- 2014: Charles Darwin Research Station faced potential closure due to funding crisis ([6])
- 2016: New no-take marine sanctuary established around Wolf and Darwin Islands. 21 illegal shark fishermen arrested with 81 sharks on longlines ([7], [8])
- 2017: Chinese fishing boat seized with 300 tons of fish/sharks — largest vessel ever caught in the reserve ([9])
- 2018: Scalloped hammerhead nursery discovered off Santa Cruz Island. Research proved a 500-mile shark migration corridor to Costa Rica’s Cocos Island ([10], [11])
- 2021: Marine Reserve expanded 45% at COP26, adding 23,000 sq miles and a protected swimway to Cocos Island ([12])
Dive Access Challenges
- 2007: Galapagos National Park dive permit crackdown cancelled all dive trips; a moratorium was issued in August 2007, creating months of uncertainty for the dive tourism industry ([13], [14])
- 2019: Liveaboard Majestic Explorer ran aground and foundered in central Galapagos; all passengers safe ([15])
Wetpixel Community Engagement
- 2004: Shark Research Institute fundraising for Galapagos shark residency tagging study ([16])
- 2005: Wetpixel/Reef & Rainforest auctioned a Galapagos expedition aboard Sky Dancer, raising $3,101 for Hurricane Katrina relief ([17])
- 2016: Washington Post/UNC produced a 360-degree underwater video project in the Galapagos ([18])
Notable Figures
- Eric Cheng — Shot digital magazine covers in Galapagos (2004)
- Josef Litt — Galapagos guidebook author; Full Frame feature on snorkel photography ([19])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, May 2, 2004: Sri Galapagos Study And Request For Donations ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 29, 2007: Galapagos Added To Unescos List Of World Heritage In Danger ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 31, 2008: Sea Lions Massacred In Galapagos Islands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2011: Boat With 357 Dead Sharks Aprehended In Galapagos ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 25, 2012: Last Pinta Giant Tortoise Lonesome George Dies ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 5, 2014: A Failure To Evolve May Cause The Charles Darwin Research Station To Go Ext ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2016: New Marine Sanctuary Established In Galapagos Islands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2016: 21 Illegal Shark Fishermen Arrested In The Galapagos Marine Reserve ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 16, 2017: Fishing Boat With 300 Tons Of Fish And Sharks Seized In Galapagos ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2018: Scientists Discover Scalloped Hammerhead Nursery In Galapagos ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2018: Research Shows Pacific Shark Highway ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2021: Galapagos Marine Reserve Increased By 45 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 13, 2007: Galapagos Trip Cancellations1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 24, 2007: Update On Galapagos Diving Situation ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 2, 2019: Majestic Explorer Founders In Galapagos ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 2, 2004: Sri Galapagos Study And Request For Donations ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 6, 2005: Charity Auction Galapagos Expedition October 9 23 2005 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2016: Out Of The Blue Galapagos Islands In 360 From The Washington Post ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2018: Josef Litt Galapagos With A Snorkel ↩
- SRI Galapagos shark study (2004) (article) ↩
- Charity auction — Sky Dancer expedition (2005) (article) ↩
- UNESCO World Heritage in Danger (2007) (article) ↩
- Dive permit crackdown (2007) (article) ↩
- Lonesome George dies (2012) (article) ↩
- Wolf/Darwin sanctuary (2016) (article) ↩
- 300-ton shark seizure (2017) (article) ↩
- Hammerhead nursery (2018) (article) ↩
- Marine Reserve expansion — COP26 (2021) (article) ↩