Floating Swarm

An original Voice of America series documents a Chinese fleet's massive fishing operation west of the Galapagos Marine Reserve in Ecuador. The vessels fish for months without returning to port. The number of species they extract from the ocean is unknown. In the Galapagos, people fear that one of the best-preserved marine ecosystems on the planet will be depleted.

By Jaime Moreno | VOA News

Episode 1

The Chinese fishing fleet and the threat to the Galapagos

Biologists and local fishermen say there is a fleet of 300 Chinese boats that fish intensively on the outskirts of the Galapagos Islands. Voice of America went to the region to examine the impact Chinese fishing is having on this unique ecosystem. Jaime Moreno has the story.

Select an episode

Episode 1

The Chinese fishing fleet and the threat to the Galapagos

Biologists and local fishermen say there is a fleet of 300 Chinese boats that fish intensively on the outskirts of the Galapagos Islands. Voice of America went to the region to examine the impact Chinese fishing is having on this unique ecosystem. Jaime Moreno has the story.

Episode 2

‘Made in China’ trash at the Galapagos Islands

In the Galapagos archipelago, biologists and experts say Chinese boats in the region are dumping huge amounts of plastic waste into the water. Voice of America traveled to one of the places most affected by the plastic trash. We report from the Galapagos Islands.

Episode 3

In search of the Chinese fleet

Voice of America accompanied the Ecuadorian navy on one of its monitoring missions on the Chinese fleet on the high seas. There are over 300 boats that fish for months and the number of species they extract from the sea is unknown. From the Galapagos Islands Jaime Moreno has the story.

Episode 4

The Chinese fleet in the world

The Chinese fishing operation near the Galapagos is getting bigger and more sophisticated. And small fishing operations are worried the massive Chinese fleet will take away their livelihood. From the Galapagos Islands Jaime Moreno has the story.

The Humboldt Current comes from Peru

The Cromwell Current comes from the western Pacific Ocean

The Panama Current comes from the Gulf of Panama

The Galapagos Marine Reserve is a sanctuary of 3,500 species

Three ocean currents converge in the archipelago: the cold Humboldt Current from Peru; a warm current that comes from Panama; Cromwell Current, rich in nutrients.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The Galapagos Marine Reserve

The Galapagos Marine Reserve was created in 1998 and is a massive 138,000-square-kilometers. On January 15, 2022, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso signed a resolution to expand the marine reserve from the original 138,000-square kilometers to 198,000-square kilometers.