Puerto Ayora, Ecuador – Money Heist star Alba Flores joined the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, to witness the beauty and the threats facing the Galápagos. She is urging governments to accelerate the UN Ocean Treaty ratification process. One year after the Treaty was agreed, it has only been ratified by Chile and Palau. To enter into force, at least 60 governments must sign the Treaty into law.[1]
Together with scientists onboard, Flores observed first hand the species abundance and diversity above and on seamounts inside and outside of the Galápagos Marine Reserve, which is one of the best examples of ocean protection in action.[2] Yet, just outside the reserve, vast industrial fishing fleets continue to devastate marine life. What happens just outside the reserve has direct negative impacts inside, and this place has no protection from these impacts.
Alba Flores, best-known for playing Nairobi in the hit Netflix series Money Heist, said: "The UN agreeing the Ocean Treaty was a historic moment that filled with hope for the future. In the Galápagos I have experienced the powerful beauty of nature but I know that close by, there are threats to the health of the archipelago, especially in the high seas areas outside the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
"Before the Ocean Treaty was agreed, it was impossible to protect this high seas area. But now governments have a chance to use the Treaty to boost protection of the Galápagos and provide a powerful example to the rest of the world of how to protect the high seas. We only need political will to make it happen. I hope my presence onboard will push more people to mobilise and to support the ratification of the treaty by their own governments. I am just one voice among many other voices, people have the power with our voices and other tools to help protect the oceans."
Laura Meller, from Greenpeace's Protect the Oceans campaign, said: "A new high seas protected area, complementing the Galápagos Marine reserve, would benefit the astonishing wildlife as well as local fishers from the neighbouring countries. This new protected area could be closed to industrial international fleets, boosting fish populations and increasing catches for fishers who operate close by in the waters of neighbouring countries. The UN Ocean Treaty will give us a tool to deliver this protection, if it is urgently ratified by at least 60 countries."
All over the world the high seas are home to millions of species and ecosystems, but less than 1% are fully protected. They are under increasing pressure from a range of threats, including industrial fishing, pollution and the emerging deep sea mining industry. To protect 30% of the oceans by 2030, we must protect more than 11 million km² of ocean every year.[3]
In late March, the Arctic Sunrise will continue on to Colombia to promote the conservation of the Colombian tropical Pacific.
