An Ecuadorean judge, Judge Alexandra Arroyo, sentenced 20 Chinese fishermen to jail for up to four years for illegally fishing off the Galapagos Islands reserve, where they were caught with 6,600 sharks, and fined them $5.9 million, according to Reuters. The crew received jail time of between one and four years, the judge said late on Sunday.
The Chinese-flagged ship Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 was intercepted by Ecuador’s navy mid-August with some 300 tonnes of near-extinct or endangered species, including hammerhead sharks. Ecuador’s foreign ministry said it had sent a formal protest to China over the presence of ships near the Galapagos.
It reported earlier this month that China’s ambassador in Quito, Wang Yulin, said his country wanted to take all measures necessary to “put an end to these illicit practices.” The islands are about 1,000 km (620 miles) west of Ecuador’s Pacific coast. The Environment Ministry said the Chinese vessel was fishing in the Galapagos’ marine reserve.
The boat will be taken over by Ecuador and the dead animals thrown out to sea, the government said on Monday.
Authorities found more than 6,600 sharks from protected species inside the ship. Shark fin soup is a Chinese delicacy and is a source of status symbol for many Chinese as prized nourishment.
In a stern statement, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it does not tolerate illegal fishing and supports Ecuador's decision to jail 20 Chinese fishermen, ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press conference on Monday.
"Illegal fishing in any form has always been opposed by the Chinese government," Hua said, adding that "every Chinese company should stay away from the illegal trade."
China is steadfast in protecting endangered species and believes that the Ecuadorian government will deal with the case in a lawful and professional manner, she added.
