They are called "Sea Cucumbers", but actually resemble more burnt, As a result, and spurred by technological organizations, the Ecuadorian In those ten short years an entire industry has grown up around The economics of sea cucumber fishing is astounding. It is actually The fishermen can earn $80 to $100 a day; the boat owners can get up The problem is that the sea cucumbers, which recycle sea garbage, aerate In response, the Indian fishermen have largely shut the Islands down In most cases, environmentalists and indigenous inhabitants are on the from El from Reuters<\/a> (English)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" They are called "Sea Cucumbers", but actually resemble more burnt, black gurkins. They are found in depths of 30 or 40 meters, in the Pacific waters off of the world-famous Galapagos Islands. As recently as ten years ago they were … Continue reading
\n black gurkins. They are found in depths of 30 or 40 meters, in the
\n Pacific waters off of the world-famous Galapagos Islands. As recently
\n as ten years ago they were ignored or trashed by Ecuadorian fishermen
\n as worthless
\n bottom
\n feeders,
\n but
\n thanks
\n to
\n a bizarre Japanese conviction that they have aphrodisiac properties,
\n they are in great demand and command high prices. So much so
\n that harvesting them is like scraping dollar bills off of the sea floor,
\n and they are in danger of extinction.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Fishing Minister has declared a limited three-month harvesting season
\n this year, and a total prohibition on sea cu<\/em>cumber harvesting
\n during 2005 and 2006.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n the sea cucumbers, and now close to a thousand Ecuadorian Indians,
\n residents
\n of the Galapagos Islands make their livings harvesting them for Japanese
\n buyers. These native American fishermen quite logically see their livelihood
\n threatened by the government measures, and as a result have taken control
\n of the national park with occupies most of Galapagos<\/a>,
\n effectively shutting them down to the international tours and environmental
\n groups that study
\n and preserve them.<\/em><\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/holoturia.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n more like sweeping five dollar bills off of the ocean floor. The actual
\n divers who go down to about 100 feet with thin rubber air hoses get almost
\n nothing; the owners of canoes and light craft they operate from are the
\n first group to really make some serious money off the trade. They sell
\n bags of 100 pepinos for prices ranging from $80 to $250 dollars, depending
\n on supply and demand.<\/p>\n
\n to $1,000. This is far more than any other occupation could bring
\n in.<\/p>\n
\n the sandy sea bottom, and form a vital link in the marine ecosystem,
\n are in danger of being harvested into extinction. The many powerful environmental
\n groups active in the Galapagos are unanimous in their opposition to the
\n harvest. And lately, the Ecuadorian government, dependent on the
\n money and fame the island tourism brings in, are listening, leading to
\n the prohibition on the trade.<\/p>\n
\n as a tourist destination. Tours from Europe, Asia and the United
\n States have been hurriedly canceled. Hundreds of tourists already in
\n Ecuador or on boats are unable to visit the Islands themselves. And rumors
\n abound that the enraged Indians, who consider the Environmentalists foreign
\n buttinskis, have taken activists and scientists hostage.<\/p>\n
\n same side in these controversies. However, in this case, it seems
\n clear to the Dowbrigade that the good guys are the Environmentalists
\n and the Ecuadorian government, rather than the get-rich quick Indians
\n and the sex-mad Asians. Not to mention the cute and non-aggressive cucumbers
\n themselves…<\/p>\n
\n Universo<\/a> (Spanish)<\/p>\n