Exciting news for shark lovers this week, as the Galapagos Islands will now have a 15,000 square mile protected area between the remote Wolf and Darwin Islands.

Extensions and increased protection levels within the Galápagos Marine Reserve mean that the waters of the Galapagos Islands will continue to be a safe haven for more than 30 species of sharks.

Overall, fishing activites have been banned or limited to selected areas around the Galapagos to ensure that these important animals of the ocean are given the best chance to survive, and perhaps thrive, around the Galapagos archipelago.

Illegal fishing has always been a threat around the Galapagos Marine Reserve, but there is a renewed realization that the value in tourism far outweighs that of fishing, especially when it comes to sharks. 

Tourism dollars from eco-friendly dive and snorkel tours, along with improved shark education and awareness for both visitors and locals can create a win-win tourism situation in the islands.

Galakiwi has always loved sharks, which is why we support Project AWARE, so we're very excited about this news. To read more about the announcement, read the article published in the Washington Post.