Galapagos under longline threat

The sensitive and unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands could be decimated by the proposed start of longline fishing in the region, warned conservation group Birdlife International this week. The group claims that numerous seabird and marine species would be under threat from the practice.

Longline trials in the area during 2004 reportedly led to a high level of bycatch of sharks and turtles, a pointed indicator of what would happen if the method was put into practice on a widespread scale. Longline fisheries off the coast of nearby Peru have led to the Waved Albatross being officially listed by Birdlife as