The demise of Darwin's fishes: evidence of fishing down and illegal shark finning in the Galápagos Islands

A significant decline in high trophic level fish species, particularly groupers, has been observed in the Galápagos Islands over the past three decades. This phenomenon, known as 'fishing down,' has been replaced by planktivorous mullets due to intense fishing pressure closer to shore. The study analyzed total landings from 1950 to 2010, revealing that industrially caught tuna accounted for 80% of the 797,000 tons of seafood extracted during this period. Additionally, illegal shark finning remains a persistent issue despite conservation efforts, highlighting ongoing threats to the marine ecosystem. The research compiled and analyzed cumulative catch statistics, providing a comprehensive assessment of fishing impacts on Galápagos fisheries.

Schiller, L., Alava, J. J., Grove, J., Reck, G., & Pauly, D. (2014). The demise of Darwin’s fishes: evidence of fishing down and illegal shark finning in the Galápagos Islands. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 25(3), 431–446. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2458