After training with its allies, the cuadorian navy is prepared to protect the waters around the Galapagos Islands against illegal fishing by foreign vessels whose visits each year threaten marine life in the waters of the archipelago.

In 2018, after a ship was captured in the protected area, training operations began around the Galapagos.

When the ship was captured, it was known as Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 and carried 300 tonnes of fish.

The problem is the increasing number of foreign fishing boats that are plundering ecosystems, said Guillermo Miranda the captain of the frigate, the Hualcopo, after the legal proceeds allowed it to be permanently given to Ecuador in the year 2020.

Miranda explained that "when they fish, it affects really migratory animals, which are in many cases part of the Galapagos Marine Ecosystem." It's not only a problem for Ecuador.

Six Ecuadorean vessels took part in training drills from June 23 through July 9 alongside vessels of the U.S. Navy, Peruvian Navy, and Colombian Naval Forces, simulating operations to intercept and board fisheries.

Every year, a large fleet of fishing boats, most flying the Chinese flags, sails near the Galapagos Islands, the place that inspired British scientist Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution back in the 19th Century.

Ecuador's Government says that boats switch off their radars in order to avoid being monitored for their fishing activities.

China claims that its fishing vessels are compliant with international rules. They also claim that the characteristics of the squid-fishing vessels prevent the bycatch or protected marine species. Reporting by Santiago Arcos, Writing by Alexandra Valencia & Oliver Griffin Editing By Chris Reese