Chinese fishing near Galapagos Islands raises fears for wildlife

For several years, Chinese fishing fleets have been crossing the Pacific to reach fertile fishing grounds near the Galapagos Islands. Now, Ecuadorian biologists are worried that the region's ecosystem is at risk. Three weeks ago, the Ecuadorian navy encountered a flotilla of nearly 260 fishing vessels sailing under Chinese flags off the coast of the Galapagos Islands. "This is the fourth year in a row that this has happened. They are coming here because the area is extremely rich in fish due to the confluence of ocean currents," Luis Suárez, director of the Ecuadorian conservation NGO "Conservación Internacional Ecuador," told DW. The fishing trawlers had traveled around 15,000...