Integrated Coastal Monitoring

Project Summary

The relatively recent increase in human activity in Galapagos requires a sophisticated monitoring system to protect species such as the flightless cormorant, the Galapagos albatross, and the Galapagos sea lion, which depend on the health of the archipelago’s coastal ecosystems. The monitoring system described below looks at the interactions of a variety of species within a targeted area and spreads a wide net in terms of capturing data with a broad biological focus that includes feeding patterns, population trends, and species migrations, as well as human activity. Together, this information will provide a coherent foundation for management decisions and for better targeting of conservation activities

Species at risk in Galapagos coastal ecosystems

Species	Status
Galapagos Sea Lion	Increased boat traffic is resulting in more sea lions being severely injured or killed by outboard motor propellers. Others are being caught in illegal long lines and fishing nets. Skin and eye diseases have recently appeared and a slaughter of 53 sea lions occurred on the northern island of Pinta in December 2007.
Flightless cormorant	Listed as Endangered by the IUCN, threats to this species include introduced predators (cats and rats), illegal fishing with nets, oil and fuel spills, and plastic garbage.
Galapagos albatross	Recently up-listed from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered, this species faces increasing threats from fishing off the South American mainland, oil pollution from fishing boats, and a potential reduction in food supply from rising water temperatures.
Spiny lobster and sea cucumbers	These species have been harvested to below economically viable levels. In the case of sea cucumbers, which play an important role in circulating nutrients on the ocean floor, it is possible that in some areas they have been reduced to a level from which the population cannot recover. Increased human activity threatens coastal areas

The beaches, lava cliffs, and shallow blue waters along the rugged coasts of the islands host a remarkable mixture of species, many found nowhere else. Marine iguanas, the only sea-going lizards in the world, share the shorelines with blue-footed boobies, sea lions, flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, and many other species.

Until now, protection efforts have focused on specific species rather than the broader ecosystem of which they form a part. However, rapidly growing human activities in coastal areas—especially fishing and tourism—are having profound and complex impacts. New approaches are needed to identify and respond to changes in these delicate ecosystems.

Galapagos fisheries have been driven by international demand and characterized by boom-and-bust cycles and social conflict. From 2002 to 2005, the sea cucumber and lobster catches dropped by 83% and 43%, respectively. In some areas it is possible that these species, which are very slow to reproduce, have been reduced to below the threshold level needed to ensure successful reproduction, and there are indications that several fish species are also overexploited.

The number of visitors to Galapagos has increased by 9% per year over the last 25 years. This growth has been accompanied by a hundred-fold increase in the resident population in just 16 years. Increased human presence in the islands has resulted in a significant increase in the number of introduced species (1,321 in 2007 compared to 112 recorded in 1900), the most serious threat to terrestrial biodiversity. A number of these introduced species, such as cats, rats, and dogs, have a particularly devastating effect on native species living in coastal areas. The growing resident population has also caused pollution that affects coastal wildlife and continues to demand additional extraction of already over-exploited marine resources.

Optimizing zoning to protect coastal species

The Galapagos Marine Reserve is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. A cornerstone for conservation efforts in the reserve is a zoning system that allows certain activities in specific areas. For example, much of the deep waters of the reserve are designated as Multiple Use Zones, where artisanal fishing, tourism, science, and education activities are allowed, provided they are consistent with the Park’s Marine Reserve Management Plan. The areas surrounding the five harbors in Galapagos are managed for human activity as well as broad conservation objectives. Coastal areas and shallow waters are generally designated as Limited Use Zones, which include control areas (no tourism or fishing is allowed), conservation and non-extraction areas (science and tourism are allowed), and areas where artisanal fishing, tourism, science, and education all take place.

Preliminary studies show that zoning in the GMR is helping to restore greater abundance and diversity of species, including top-level predators. However, effective management and adjustment of the zones requires comprehensive, integrated, up-to-date data to allow rapid assessment of conditions and the development of risk assessment models to anticipate the impact of current or proposed human activities or ecological disturbances.

Implementing an Integrated Coastal Monitoring System

As the demand for coastal resources rises, an integrated monitoring system will provide a solid scientific foundation for evaluation of coastal zoning, and will allow us to model both direct and indirect effects of different levels and kinds of use. It will enable the Park to respond swiftly to disturbances in coastal areas and to better plan long-term conservation efforts. The monitoring system will have two main components:

Marine component. Work in marine areas will begin with monitoring seasonal and distribution trends of key species and habitats. Predictive ecosystem models will be developed to better understand feeding dependencies among species and to predict responses to disturbances such as El Niño events, oil spills, and climate change, as well as possible cascading effects that could flow through the entire ecosystem. Methodologies will be developed to ensure ecosystem recovery following extreme disturbances. Ecological risk assessments will be completed for fisheries and tourism activities, and models will be developed to optimize fisheries, tourism, and conservation activities. Cost: $200,000 in year one and $100,000/year thereafter.

Terrestrial component. In the terrestrial areas of coastal ecosystems, monitoring will track the full suite of coastal vertebrates, many of which feed in the sea but spend much of their time on land. The system will be based on rigorous sampling in the various coastal management zones. In addition to Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants, both of which have been censused regularly, the monitoring system will include sea lions and fur seals, marine iguanas, sea turtles, the three booby species, and both lava and swallow-tailed gulls. Breeding activity of sea turtles and selected seabirds will be tracked at specific focus sites. Cost: $170,000/year to supplement current monitoring activities.

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