Chinese ship with 6620 sharks caputred inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve

More than 6.620 sharks were found in the hold of the "Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999" after it was captured inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve. On Aug 27, 2017, was the third day of hearing of the crew of the freighter for presumed environmental crime. The nearly 300 tonnes of fish found in the vessel's holds were received from two Taiwanese vessels, the "Hai Fang 301" and "Hai Fang 302". According to the crew's reports, the transshipment took place between Aug 5 and 7, more than 1,000 miles northwest of Galapagos. The ship was captured by the Ecuadorian Navy on Aug 13 near San Cristóbal Island. The vessel had entered unauthorizedly into the Galapagos Marine Reserve, bound for Peru, and then returned to China. The accusation of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Park's Management was based on Article 247 of the Integrated Criminal Code (COIP). In addition, the freighter was not allowed to sail through this protected area.  (Photo Credit: Diego Pallero/ EL COMERCIO)