28 updates found

03 Sep 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Galapagos Safeguards: International conservation efforts continue on the Galapagos Islands after the oil spill earlier this year

Report

— Japan International Cooperation Agency

"BOTH in space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact -that mystery of mysteries- the first appearance of new beings on this earth."

That is how English naturalist Charles Darwin described the Galapagos Islands in his H.M.S. Beagle logbook entry for 8 October 1835. Darwin spent five weeks on the islands observing endemic species such as tortoises, fish and iguanas. The unusual fauna on the Galapagos inspired him to ponder revolutionary theories on natural selection, which he presented in his great work, On the Origin of Species from Natural Selection

09 Mar 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Galapagos National Park Service Press Release on Cvil lawsuit filed for punitive damages

Report

— Galapagos National Park

Oficio N° 263-01 PNG-DIR

Dear Friends and Supporters:

As you know, this past January 16th, the Galapagos Islands suffered an important ecological impact as a result of the grounding of the M/T Jessica and consequentially its fuel spillage in the waters surrounding the archipelago.

In the interests of the province of Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park has presented a civil lawsuit for punitive damages against the company who built the tanker, Petrocomercial, (the Ecuadorian government's entity responsible for transporting hydrocarbons

09 Feb 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
NASA helps assess long-term problems of Galapagos Islands fuel spill

Report

— US Department of State

In the aftermath of the January 16 fuel spill off the coast of Ecuador, scientists are still trying to determine potential long-term effects of the accident on the ecologically sensitive Galapagos Islands, home to a variety of unique plant and animal species.

While the immediate damage appears to have been successfully contained by emergency response crews from Ecuador and the United States, conservationists warn that the fuel spill's full impact "might not be known for years," according to a press release

05 Feb 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
National Ocean Service Responds to Galapagos Spill

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— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

January 16, Galapagos Islands. The tanker Jessica ran aground just offshore of San Cristobal Island. By January 20, it had begun leaking its cargo of 170,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 60,000 gallons of intermediate fuel oil. At the request of the Ecuador government, the National Ocean Service sent a spill response team to assist. NOS will provide environmental protection and cleanup recommendations. A NOS Scientific Support Coordinator arrived on San Cristobal in the USCG C-130 aircraft on January 21. He was joined by a second NOAA Scientific

02 Feb 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Galapagos: Now It's Time For Clean-Up, Evaluation Of Impacts And Monitoring - And To Think About The Future

Report

— Charles Darwin Foundation

By the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands

The grounded ship, "Jessica", is still firmly lodged on the sandbank by San Cristóbal Island in Galapagos, where she ran aground on 16th January. She has resisted the salvage efforts of the Ecuadorian Navy and of the team of U.S. Coast Guard experts, who fly out today after two weeks of intensive work, in which they were able to pump out a little of the cargo but could not right or refloat the vessel. They have confirmed that almost all the cargo of diesel and bunker fuel

02 Feb 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Galápagos: Ahora es tiempo de limpiar, evaluar y monitorear los impactos - y pensar en el futuro

Report

— Charles Darwin Foundation

Por la Fundación Charles Darwin para las islas Galápagos

La nave "Jessica" encallada el pasado 16 de enero en la isla San Cristóbal, Galápagos permanece todavía firme en el banco de arena. Esta embarcación ha resistido los esfuerzos de ayuda de los expertos de la Armada ecuatoriana y del equipo de la Guardia Costera de los Estados Unidos, quienes ahora salen de las islas después de dos semanas de intenso trabajo. Estos expertos pudieron sacar una pequeña parte de la carga pero no lograron enderezar ni reflotar al tanquero. Ellos

30 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Update on the Jessica II fuel spill: 30 Jan 2001

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— Galapagos National Park

PRESS RELEASE 11

Today work with the wrecked tanker continued on San Cristobal. The team of national and international technicians is trying to decide what to do with the ship.

The Galapagos National Park patrol launch Sirenian remains in Floreana where recovery of bunker fuel continues. Today, Tuesday 30, two more marine iguanas were found covered in oil. They received adequate treatment and were then set free. Another Audubon shearwater (marine bird) died. A veterinarian from the Galapagos National Park and two specialists joined the Floreana based work team to

30 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Estado del derrame de combustible del Jessica II: 30 de ene del 2001

Report

— Galapagos National Park

BOLETIN DE PRENSA 11

Las actividades que se han desarrollado el día de hoy consisten básicamente en la continuación de los trabajos en San Cristóbal en el buque siniestrado. El equipo de técnicos, tanto nacionales como extranjeros, está tratando de tomar una decisión sobre qué hacer con el barco.

En Floreana prosigue la recopilación de bunker. La lancha patrullera Sirenian del Parque Nacional Galápagos permanece allá. El día de hoy, martes 30, se encontraron otras dos iguanas marinas cubiertas de combustible, las cuales recibieron el tratamiento

29 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Update on the Jessica II fuel spill: 29 Jan 2001

Report

— Galapagos National Park

PRESS RELEASE 10

The Galapagos National Park continues mitigation actions to counteract the fuel spill produced when the tanker Jessica ran aground on San Cristobal Island some days ago.

In Floreana work has continued throughout the day. The last traces of fuel in the zone close to Perros Beach had been cleaned up by midday. Two frigate birds and two rays were found dead and some oiled marine iguanas were treated on the spot. The fuel spill in the area of Perros Beach was basically pure bunker fuel. The fuel was recovered thanks to the hard work of the local population,

28 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Update on the Jessica II fuel spill: 28 Jan 2001

Report

— Galapagos National Park

PRESS RELEASE 09

Yesterday, Saturday January 27, the Galapagos National Park patrol launch Guadalupe River, left for Isabela, transporting equipment and combustible for the mitigation and control of a fuel slick resulting from last week's spill. The slick, which was found off Tortuga Islet yesterday at noon, collided with Tintoreras Islet and reached Puerto Villamil Beach on Isabela Island. Both the Islet and the beach have been cleaned and the situation is under control. Monitoring activity will continue because filaments of combustible were found at Quinta

26 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
New hurdle hampers Galapagos oil-spill cleanup

Report

— Reuters - AlertNet

By Simon Gardner

PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO, Ecuador, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Efforts to clear the Ecuadorean tanker aground off the Galapagos Islands were hampered by a lack of equipment on Friday but the threat from the oil spill was fading, experts said.

The Ecuadorean Navy had hoped to bring the Jessica to an even keel but a U.S. Coast Guard team said they had run out of cables key to the salvage operation.

The Jessica belched about two-thirds of its cargo of 240,000 gallons (908,496 litres) of oil into the crystalline

Reuters - AlertNet:

For more humanitarian news and analysis, please visit www.trust.org/alertnet

26 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
WWF Asked To Lead Galapagos Wildlife Rescue Effort; Small Slicks Still Pose Big Risk

Report

— World Wide Fund For Nature

WASHINGTON -- The government of Ecuador has asked the coordinator for WWF's Galapagos program, Dr. Carlos Valle, to lead all wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts on the islands in the wake of last week's spill from the Ecuadorian tanker Jessica.
Dr. Valle, who is presently in the Galapagos directing WWF's Galapagos emergency response team, will assume his new duties immediately as Wildlife Rescue Coordinator for the Galapagos National Park Service.

"At its request, we are temporarily assigning Dr. Valle to the National Park Service to help direct both the

25 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Ecological Disaster Threatens Galápagos Islands

Report

— DisasterRelief

Written by Christina Ward, Staff Writer, DisasterRelief.org, with news reports
Recovery efforts continued Wednesday (Jan. 24) following a major oil spill off the coast of Ecuador that has affected the famous, fragile ecology of the Galápagos Islands. A total of about 190,000 gallons of diesel fuel have poured out of the Ecuadorian tanker Jessica since it ran aground last Tuesday (Jan. 16). After the accident, workers were able to remove much of the remaining oil from the ship's cargo hold before it spilled out. But pounding waves caused new breaks in hull

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25 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Storms Delay Plans to Straighten Galapagos Boat

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— Reuters - AlertNet

By Simon Gardner

PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO, Ecuador (Reuters) - Strong swells hampered efforts to clean up the oil spill threatening Ecuador's Galapagos islands but the exotic species of the naturalist's paradise have so far mostly escaped contamination.

Waves crashing over the semi-submerged hulk of the Ecuadorean-registered Jessica, which released the slick after running aground last week, have prevented U.S. Coast Guard (news - web sites) teams from trying to remove what little oil remains on board.

Local fisherman, who had been scooping

Reuters - AlertNet:

For more humanitarian news and analysis, please visit www.trust.org/alertnet

24 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Clean up crews fight giant oil slick off the Galapagos

Report

— Agence France-Presse

by Jacques Thomet

PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO, Ecuador, Jan 24 (AFP) - Crews were working against time Wednesday to finish pumping the remaining oil from a battered tanker that ran aground off the Galapagos Islands before it seeps into the once pristine waters of the world famous nature reserve.

The islands came under renewed threat Tuesday when more oil was found flowing out of a second breach in the hull of the Ecuadoran tanker.

"We are facing a new pollution danger in the bay ... following the first oil spill," Environment Minister Rodolfo Rendon told reporters.

Agence France-Presse:

©AFP: The information provided in this product is for personal use only. None of it may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the express permission of Agence France-Presse.

24 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Peter Hain announces £50,000 assistance for Galapagos Islands

Report

— Government of the United Kingdom

Following the recent oil spillage from the oil tanker the Jessica, FCO Minister Peter Hain said:

'The FCO will provide up to =A350,000 for technical and other assistance over environmental threats to the Galapagos Islands. We are particularly concerned to help the Government of Ecuador ensure that shipping and fishing activities do not damage the rich biodiversity of the islands and undermine the integrity of this flagship World Heritage Site.'

Notes for Editors

1. This =A350,000 will come from the FCO's Environmental Project Fund. The total FCO Environmental Project Fund for

24 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Commission sends experts to assist in Galapagos clean-up

Report

— European Union

IP/01/104
Brussels, 24 January 2001 - Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström today announced that following a request from the Ecuadorian authorities, three experts of the European Task Force dealing with accidental marine pollution are being sent to Ecuador. The three experts, from Spain, France and the United Kingdom, are specialists in operational, technical and biodiversity aspects of marine pollution. They will help the Ecuadorian authorities to define the best means of minimising the impact of the pollution and to ensure the recovery of affected areas of the Galapagos islands.

24 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Participation de la France à la mission européenne envoyée aux Galapagos après le naufrage du pétrolier "Jessica"

Report

— Government of France

Déclaration du Porte-parole adjoint du Quai d'Orsay

(Paris, 24 janvier 2001)

La France a décidé de participer à la mission européenne qui partira demain matin, mercredi, pour les îles Galapagos.

Mme Claudine Tiercelin, ingénieur au CEDRE, le Centre d'études, de documentation, de recherches et d'expérimentation sur les pollutions accidentelles des eaux fera en effet partie d'une mission d'experts, dont l'envoi a été coordonné par la Commission européenne.

Le CEDRE est un établissement créé sous forme d'association co-financé par l'Etat et des entreprises privées. Il

24 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
WWF Sets Up Galapagos Response Center; Donates Emergency Funds to Spill Clean Up

Report

— World Wide Fund For Nature

For Release: 01/24/01
WASHINGTON--World Wildlife Fund Wednesday announced an emergency contribution of $100,000 to help fund clean-up efforts on the Galapagos Islands in the wake of last week's oil spill.

The conservation organization, which funds conservation programs on the islands and works closely with research and park service staff there, also announced it was setting up a special Galapagos Emergency Response Center to monitor the clean-up and help mobilize the financial and technical resources necessary to mitigate the long-term damage.

"The most urgent priority now is

23 Jan 2001

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Oil Spill Spreads in Ecuador's Galapagos Islands

Report

— Reuters - AlertNet

By Amy Taxin

QUIT0 (Reuters) - Ecuador declared a national emergency in the Galapagos Islands on Monday after an oil spill just a half-mile from the shore floated toward the westernmost islands, threatening some of the world's rarest sea animals and birds, officials said.

''For us, this is the equivalent of an earthquake,'' said presidential spokesman Alfredo Negrete, explaining that the state of emergency would let the government immediately channel the funds needed for cleanup.

The Galapagos Islands, 600 miles west

Reuters - AlertNet:

For more humanitarian news and analysis, please visit www.trust.org/alertnet

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